In October 2024, Transport of Main Roads Queensland hosted a workshop to dive into the challenges and priorities for the Queensland Beef Corridor (QBC) network.

At the workshop QBC provided a brief background of the advocacy journey leading to the bipartisan support of $500M from the federal and state government towards sealing mostly TMR gravel roads and the uplift of heavy vehicle usage to Type 1 Road Trains along the Burnett Hwy (Biloela to Dululu) and the Dawson Highway into the Gladstone Port.  QBC acknowledged the current funding will not deliver QBC complete vision to seal and uplift to Type 1 Road Trains for each QBC identify road and will continue to advocate for future funding.  However, currently we are committed to work with TMR to best prioritise and deliver the $500 million for Central Queensland Beef Roads.

TMR highlighted the announced CQBR early works projects and current vehicle usage, flood, and crash locations along the QBC identify roads.  The flood and crash data for the adjoining state highways were not disclosed.

Through the group discussions and workshop activities there was a clear industry message, to seal the unsealed roads making them more assessable all year round.  Industry representative noted that improved access along gravel roads not only increases productivity but also economic benefits across the entire beef industry.  There was also strong support to uplift heavy vehicle usage to Type 1 Road Trains into the Gladstone Port, with industry questioning what was preventing this access now.

It appeared in the workshop activities that TMR have a focus on overtaking lanes for the highway sections.