Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says that in the wake of the Nanango Electorate being ranked as the region with the second highest road fatalities in the State, there is more bad news with one of the South Burnett’s worst bridges, GS Bond Bridge (on the Chinchilla-Wondai Road), having its funding removed.
Mrs Frecklington said GS Bond Bridge is a dangerous bridge desperately in need of complete replacement and realignment.
“GS Bond Bridge is a bad bridge and there was hope several years ago when it was listed for a $13million overhaul,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“However, in this year’s Qld Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP), the funding for GS Bond Bridge has disappeared.
“We have been told the funding has been removed and will go towards other ‘higher priority’ projects to progress.
“The GS Bond Bridge should be a very high priority, given it is a very narrow bridge with inadequate signage, no safety railings, and low visibility and limited room on its approaches.
“It is a school bus route and I’ve talked with parents with children at Durong South State School who are very concerned about the safety of this bridge.
“Unfortunately, this story is all too common, with another dangerous bridge, the single-lane Tanduringie Creek Bridge on the Kingaroy-Cooyar Road, in the same situation. It has received no funding despite desperate calls from myself and the community after a near tragedy involving the school bus and truck.
“The list of bad bridges in our region goes on, with Running Creek Bridge on the Brooweena-Woolooga Road (the bridge that burnt down), the Wide Bay Creek Bridge (reduced to one lane and lowered speed limit) and Coppermine Creek Bridge (single-lane) bridges on Kilkivan-Tansey Road all in desperate need of complete replacement.
“Once again, I implore the Labor Government to look at the very high road statistics in our region and what is blatantly obvious - our regional roads need urgent funding to make them safe.
“Our communities need confidence in their road network to know they can travel to work, drop their kids off at school or drive their truck to market without worrying if they’ll return to their families at the end of the day,” Deb said.
Photo: Bad Bridge 1 – At GS Bond Bridge on the Boyne River with Durong South State School P&C President Bec Seiler (left) and P&C member Natalie Gordon
