South-East Queensland population is expected to grow by up to 2.2 million people by 2046.
Investment in critical infrastructure in our region is essential, to meet demand, with many of our roads already at breaking point.
During the 2022 Election I secured a Coalition commitment of $55 million to the $110 million upgrade of Exit 38 on the M1 at Yatala.
Unfortunately, following repeated correspondence to the Prime Minister, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure, this funding is yet to be matched by the current government.
Compounding our congestion issues is the current ‘90-Day Infrastructure Review’ which has placed further projects in doubt.
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, announced a 90-day review of the federal government’s $120 billion infrastructure pipeline, back in May of this year.
As of writing this column, the Review is at day 178 of 90, by the time you may be reading this, we will be closing in on day 190 – more than 100 days behind schedule.
Placing so many important projects under threat of cancellation, for so long, is unacceptable, given the current state of Australia’s already under pressure infrastructure network.
Staggeringly, many of these projects were already fully funded.
Funding which our local councils depend on to upgrade and maintain our local roads and intersections.
Upgrades currently in doubt, in our local area include:
- Chambers Flat Road upgrade between Park Ridge Road and Derby Road;
- High Road and Easterly Street at Waterford; and
- Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road to Milne Street section.
Alarmingly, more than 400 critical road and rail projects across the nation remain under threat of cancellation, due to the Review.
With our population expected to significantly increase over the next few years, it is vital that the future of these projects is known, sooner, rather than later.
While the Labor government delays critical infrastructure projects we are missing out on:
- Safer roads
- New and upgraded bridges
- Better public transport
- More local jobs
That’s why we have created a petition calling on Minister King to finalise the Review.
You can sign the petition at stoplaborscuts.com.au.
