Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington says the latest RACQ road fatality statistics, which show Nanango Electorate roads have claimed the highest number of road deaths in Queensland so far this year, can no longer be ignored by the State Government.
Mrs Frecklington said families continue to be torn apart by these tragedies, with 13 fatalities in the region between January 1st and July 31st 2022.
“With every fatality, a family suffers unimaginable loss. We must remember that these statistics only count those who have lost their lives. There are many more who are injured and incapacitated in these accidents who will endure a lifetime of suffering,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“The statistics compiled by RACQ paint a damning picture of road safety across the Nanango Electorate. In 2021, the region was the second worst in Queensland, and now we have unfortunately risen to become the worst in Queensland.
“I recently spoke in Parliament* about the chronic neglect of state-controlled roads across the Electorate but I was shut down by the Minister for Transport and Main Roads who didn’t want me reminding the Government about the huge road maintenance backlog.
“Statewide the backlog on state-controlled roads has blown out to $5.7million, with the Auditor-General forecasting that our maintenance backlog would grow to $9 billion this decade. This chronic neglect of our regional road upgrades means our roads continue to deteriorate.
“Our communities need confidence in their road network to know they can safely travel to work, drive their truck to market, or send their kids on the school bus,” Deb said.
‘I will continue to advocate for funding for our highways including the Bunya, Burnett, D’Aguilar and Brisbane Valley Highways, along with key connecting roads and bridges including:
• Tanduringie Creek Bridge, GS Bond Bridge on the Chinchilla-Wondai Road, Running Creek Bridge on the Woolooga-Brooweena Road and single-lane Cooyar Bridge on the New England Highway,
• Mundubbera-Durong Road, Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road, Kilkivan-Tansey Road, Memerambi-Gordonbrook Road and Byee Road
“Unfortunately, these roads are never a priority for this State Government, but this must change and I implore them to look at these statistics and what is blatantly obvious - our regional roads need urgent funding to make them safe,” Deb said.
*Transcript – 30 August 2022 - https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/speeches/spk2022/Deborah_Frecklington-Nanango-20220830-192232821573.pdf
