Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has questioned* the Minister for Main Roads about the Kilkivan-Tansey Road and the Running Creek Bridge on Brooweena-Woolooga Road, seeking answers about when both will be upgraded.
Mrs Frecklington said these key roads are continuously overlooked for funding and it was time for action.
““These important connecting roads have been neglected by Labor for far too long,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The Kilkivan-Tansey Rd is a major connecting road between the Central and North Burnett and the coast and locals know how terrible sections of this road have become.
“In fact many often choose to take an alternative route rather than risk travelling on this road.
“I have also specifically asked about the Coppermine Creek Bridge and why recent works to the bridge did not widen the bridge to two lanes.
“The Running Creek Bridge is another major concern. We know there are plans drafted to realign and rebuild the Bridge, but if there’s no funding in the pipeline, this will never happen.
“Labor just don’t get the importance of these regional roads to our local community,” Deb said.
Photo: Kilkivan-Tansey Road
*Questions on Notice asked 24th and 25th March
1. MRS D FRECKLINGTON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)
With reference to Main Road Number 486, the Kilkivan-Tansey Road— Will the Minister advise (a) when funding will be provided to widen the dangerous single-lane sections to two lanes, (b) why recent works to the Coppermine Creek Bridge did not widen the bridge to two lanes, (c) the cost of the recent Coppermine Creek Bridge remediation works, (d) in comparison, what did modelling show as the cost to widen this bridge to two lanes and (e) given planning for the Wide Bay Creek bridge is listed in Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP), when will funding be made available to upgrade this bridge?
2. MRS D FRECKLINGTON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)
With reference to Running Creek Bridge, a notoriously dangerous single-lane bridge located on the Brooweena-Woolooga Road (Main Road Number 487) and the subsequent building of a side track following the old wooden bridge burning down and collapsing in December 2019 following a car accident— Will the Minister advise, given that planning has been conducted to upgrade and re-align the Running Creek Bridge, when funding will be provided to build a new bridge and improve safety on this road?
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, is encouraging groups and individuals to submit applications for Round Thirteen of her ‘Local Hero Grants’ – but hurry, they close next week!
Mrs Frecklington said grants of $250 are available for community groups from the Nanango Electorate, and also for individuals needing assistance to travel to sporting events or other competitions.
“The grants provides an opportunity to show my support, thanks and appreciation for all our hardworking volunteer groups who make such a difference for our community, and to encourage people who are attending sporting or other events and need assistance to make it possible,” Deb said.
The closing date is 31 March, so get your applications in! If you would like to apply, please go to my website at www.debfrecklington.com.au or contact the Electorate office on 4190 7100 for the guidelines.
No form of sexual harassment is acceptable.
So many women who have gone before us have worked incredibly hard to stand up for what is right.
I applaud and commend all the women who are sharing their experiences and raising awareness about sexual harassment.
This is an important moment to bring this issue into the spotlight and highlight that this behaviour is not OK.
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says the Minister for Health’s response to her enquiries about the flooding of the Kingaroy Hospital still leave many questions unanswered.
Mrs Frecklington said the response did not reveal the full story of the ramifications of the flooding, and also made unreasonable claims.
“The Minister for Health claims the flooding was caused by a ‘severe’ rain event. I think most people would question this statement, as it seems extraordinary that a rain event of just 37mm could result in such major damage to a brand new Hospital,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I had also asked how many beds were closed after the event and how many patients had to be moved.
“Both these questions remain unanswered. Anecdotally, we have heard that 55% of the 66 beds have been closed, severely reducing the capacity of the Hospital.
“The Minister did confirm however that rectification works were due to be completed this week, some seven weeks after the flooding occurred.
“It really is bitterly disappointing and unacceptable that this has occurred.
“The full cost of the damage has also not been revealed. I am pleased however that taxpayers won’t bear the cost, which is being absorbed by the building contractor.
“Thankfully the new CT scanner was not damaged and was back in use by the 28th January. This did affect services for this period however, and I know patients were diverted to Toowoomba again during this time.
“I believe much remains unanswered and the Health Minister is avoiding important questions about what has happened. Let’s hope that the rectification works are done properly and this type of flooding damage doesn’t happen again,” Deb said
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, has announced the winner of the Nanango Electorate 2020 Year 12 School Leaver’s Bursary worth $1000 – Miss Olivia Almond, a graduate of Kingaroy State High School.
Mrs Frecklington said there had been a strong field of applicants representing Year 12 school leavers from each of the five High School’s across the Electorate.
“The calibre of students and their plans for further study was impressive, so it was a very difficult task choosing just one recipient,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“I’d like to thank Mr Keith Campbell, who assisted me with all of the interviews. Thanks to the benefits of Zoom technology, we were able to talk with each of the applicants, many of whom have already made the move away to start their various courses.
“Olivia is studying to become an Optometrist and has begun her three-year Bachelor of Vision Science at QUT, Kelvin Grove campus, which will then be followed by a further two-year Master of Optometry course.
“She was inspirational, explaining that she has wanted to become an optometrist and work in the health profession since she was in Grade 3 when she started to wear glasses.
“I am so pleased that this Bursary will help Olivia with the costs associated with moving from her home at Pimpimbudgee in the South Burnett to her new accommodation in Brisbane.
“It is a big step for our young people when they head to the major centres for study, and the purpose of the Bursary is to help make that move for students and their families just that little bit more achievable.
Applications for the 2021 Deb Frecklington Nanango Electorate Year 12 School Leavers Bursary will open on 5 October 2021.
Photo: Deb with Olivia Almond outside Parliament House. Olivia is the winner of the 2020 Year 12 School Leavers Nanango Electorate Bursary
Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington said the huge turnout (see photo above) for the Reef Regulations consultation in Kingaroy on Tuesday 9th February in Kingaroy demonstrated the level of concern in the community.
Mrs Frecklington understands it was the biggest turnout so far for any of the consultations about the looming Reef Regulations which have been held in reef catchments across Queensland.
“It was heartening to see so many primary producers attend the meeting in Kingaroy to voice their concerns about these onerous regulations and how they will affect their business,” Deb said.
“These reef regulations for cropping and horticulture will start coming into effect from 1 June this year and ultimately they will affect every landholder in a reef catchment area,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“For our region, this means every primary producer in the South Burnett and western Gympie regions,”
“Above everything else, the main question asked was why our region is even included in this legislation.
“When these laws were moved through the Parliament in September 2019, the LNP proposed amendments to introduce at least a ten-year grace period for the Burnett-Mary catchment area, but this was rejected by Labor.
“There were some excellent questions about how these regulations will be implemented and what level of compliance will be undertaken.
“People also highlighted that the rules are different for producers, depending on whether you are growing a commercial crop, or a fodder crop. Not to mention there will be a fee of up to $870 to apply.
“The role of the government should be to work alongside farmers and communities towards environmental outcomes, instead of ramming unworkable laws down their throats.
“I urge producers to make a submission letting the Government know how this will impact their business,” Deb said. Submissions can be made by 17th February at https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/agriculture/sustainable-farming/reef/reef-regulations/producers/cropping
