The business case for stage two of the Coomera Connector is gaining momentum, with soil tests now underway at the Eagleby Wetlands.
Transport and Main Roads had a drilling rig running geotechnical tests near Schmidt Road between November 10 and 12.
A TMR spokesperson said the geotechnical work feeds into environmental feasibility studies within the project.
“An independent study of potential routes for the northern section confirmed a corridor already preserved for the future road as the preferred option,” the spokesperson said.
“The study found this alignment had the least number of impacts on properties and homes, and did not impact the RAMSAR wetlands located north of the Logan River.”
Forde member Bert van Manen said this is clearly not the case.
“I cannot support a road that negatively impacts the wetlands and Eagleby community,” he said.
“There are a number of proposed alternate routes that have merit to solve the issue of congestion around the bay side and the M1, while protecting the Eagleby community particularly in alternative alignment one.”
The stretch running from Loganholme to Coomera through the Eagleby Wetlands is expected to be completed by 2023, according to the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
“Once the business case is complete, the decision to proceed with future stages of the Coomera Connector, and its timing will be determined,” a TMR spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also reaffirmed that the correct ecological surveys are being conducted to support environmental approvals.
However, a community group has been refused three times in the last three months to see the environment reports, such as hydraulic engineering assessments, under right to information requests.
According to RTI application documents, the grounds for refusal relate to a clause preventing information from being publicised if it is deemed to prejudice government decisions or operations.
The latest refusal from November 8 stated the environmental reports “contain information used to inform Cabinet deliberations and decisions.”
The document also stated: “The information is not solely factual or statistical data but includes expert summaries, options analysis and recommendations.”
BirdLife Queensland’s Sheena Gillman said this is a “domineering” move that lacks sympathy for residents in the area who will be directly impacted by the road, as well as the environment.
Ms Gillman has been advocating for the relocation of stage two away from the Eagleby Wetlands to the Queensland Conservation Council and state environment minister Meaghan Scanlon.
She believes the government is operating under the pretence of a business case, while knowing full well Eagleby Wetlands will become the Coomera Connector.
“I don’t think it’s open for debate at all, they’re doing compulsory acquisition of land parcels, the surveyors are out there measuring the land right now, so at what stage is Eagleby not going to be the Coomera Connector?” Ms Gillman said.
In September the Eagleby Community and Wetlands Group hosted a bird count for the critical species of Latham’s Snipe.
The results revealed 22 snipes in the area, which Ms Gillman said is enough to trigger the national Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
