MP row over new highway

NO sooner has peace been made between the Turnbull and Palaszczuk governments on reaching a 50-50 split on upgrading the M1, a political fight has erupted at a state level about the second motorway.

Labor’s Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon has accused the LNP Coast MP Ros Bates of deliberately misleading M1 motorists or being “simply incompetent” after claiming no more resumptions were required for the Coomera Connector.

The Coomera Connector is an 36.5km corridor from Stapylton-Jacobs Well Rd at Staplyton to Nerang-Broadbeach Rd in Nerang.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington at the weekend pledged $250 million to build the road and it would need to be matched by the Federal Government. But Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said costings for the M2 had a $2.1 billion hole.

Ms Scanlon said: “The second M1 still requires extensive planning and some resumptions after the LNP stopped it being included in the SEQ Regional Plan and Gold Coast City Plan,”

In reply, Ms Bates said: “She’s been a Member (of Parliament) for a minute. Meaghan Scanlon was in nappies when I started campaigning for the M1. All she does is spout Mark Bailey’s lines which quite frankly the Gold Coast has heard enough of.”