Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says the 2021/22 State Budget continues the Labor Government’s chronic neglect of regional road upgrades and maintenance.
Mrs Frecklington said Labor is losing control of services, including the ability to provide a safe regional road network.
“This year I have asked the Labor Government about key regional roads and when they intend to provide funding to make them safe,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The response is always the same – there is no funding for our regional roads.
“Statewide we know that the backlog on state-controlled roads has blown out from $4 billion to $6 billion.
“The Labor Government was warned by the Auditor-General three years ago that there were serious problem’s with Queensland’s roads, but Labor did nothing.
“The Auditor-General also forecast that our maintenance backlog would grown to $9 billion this decade, but at the current rate we’re going, it will be well over $10 billion.
“Couple this with an overall slash in Queensland’s entire infrastructure spending of $4 billion dollars over the forward estimates and we have minimal new money being invested in Queensland, with most projects just being reannounced.
Deb said that over the past six months, she has asked Questions on Notice to the Minister for Main Roads about three state-controlled roads which are constantly overlooked.
“I have specifically asked about Kilkivan-Tansey Road, Memerambi Gordonbrook Road and Running Creek Bridge on Brooweena-Woolooga Road, but the answers gave no hope that the roads would be fixed.*
“I am also very disappointed that Tanduringie Creek Bridge has not been listed for upgrade. This is a serious safety issue which has been completely overlooked.
“We have had one small win, with funding announced to seal a section of the Bunya Mountains-Maidenwell Road. However, we won’t see any works however until 2024/25.
“While Labor’s Big Black Hole (Cross River Rail) sucks up all the cash, regional road users are left to deal with more potholes, dodgy bridges and unsafe roads.
“Labor just don’t get the importance of these regional roads to our local community,” Deb said.
“They’ve completely lost control of road maintenance,” Deb said.
ENDS…
Photo: Kilkivan-Tansey Road
*Links to Responses to Questions on Notice asked 24th, 25th March and 11th May -
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?
Answer - https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/256-2021.pdf
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?
Answer - https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/256-2021.pdf
3. MRS D FRECKLINGTON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)
With reference to Main Road Number 4206, the Memerambi-Gordonbrook Road and in light of the fact that a Queensland Ambulance recently ran off the unsealed section, as well as the ongoing concerns about the deteriorating condition of this road— Will the Minister advise (a) when funding will be provided to upgrade and seal the 7km unsealed section between Hirst Creek and the Chinchilla-Wondai Road and (b) when funding will be provided to upgrade the sealed section to improve the road shoulders and potholes?
Answer - https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/507-2021.pdf
