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Opinion Piece
A lack of funding to address crucial safety upgrades on the Bruce Highway highlighted in the state’s own 15-year action plan, has left Member for Burdekin Dale Last shaking his head.
As community frustration continued over the loss of lives on some of the state’s deadliest sections of the Bruce Highway, Mr Last said any hopes of having serious concerns with sections of the major highway addressed in his electorate were all but dashed by the latest Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Plan (QTRIP).
“Once again we’ve seen the state government release an action plan clearly outlining what needs to be fixed and how soon, yet when it comes to implementing those actions, this Minister seems all too happy to turn a blind eye to the recommendations,” Mr Last said.
“A total of 18 actions were outlined in the Bruce Highway’s 15 year action plan for the Burdekin Electorate alone in the next four years, yet 15 remain unfunded in QTRIP, including multiple sections this community has long called for safety upgrades to be conducted.”
“Every time a community and first responders are left to pick up the pieces from another fatal accident on the Bruce Highway they are left to question just how much more blood needs to be shed before the road they rely on gets serious funding and it’s clearly a question this Minister needs to start answering.”
The 15 sections mentioned to be funded within the next four years, according to the action plan, included a replacement bridge at Alligator Creek, multiple safety upgrades on the highway from Cape Cleveland Road to Zinc Road as well as others south of Home Hill to Bowen.
“All of those areas have been raised as serious safety concerns that I have advocated for on several occasions, yet despite this, a mere three - including rehabilitation works -on the Burdekin Bridge were listed for funding in the current QTRIP report,” Mr Last reported.
“Time and time again we see glossy documents released which reiterate the serious concerns that communities have raised previously, so to have another glossy document released but not to see the actions funded is a kick in the guts to every family, truck driver and commuter left to run the gauntlet on the Bruce Highway.”
“The Minister wants to talk about travelling the Bruce Highway to make announcements but is not willing to drive to communities in my patch to hear from those left to pick up the pieces from a deadly crash so they can explain why those 15 actions need to be funded.”
Contributed by Dale Last.
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