M1 cash shows eyes are on the road and looking ahead

CAMERON Caldwell seems to pine for the bad old days when the Gold Coast was starved of new infrastructure by the previous state LNP government, judging by his article in the Golden Age series in the Gold Coast Bulletin on Saturday.

In stark contrast, this year’s Palaszczuk Labor Government Budget delivers four muchneeded M1 upgrades – $2.3 billion in joint funding with two major upgrades already under way and two to follow immediately after, to the relief of every Gold Coast motorist.

It’s surprising to realise that Cameron seems unaware the Palaszczuk Government is funding in this year’s budget our election commitment to upgrade the Exit 57 Oxenford Interchange.

It follows after we started and finished the Exit 54 Coomera Interchange last term, necessary for growth in the area, including the Coomera Town Centre project.

This year’s Budget will see the necessary planning for other upgrades at Exits 41, 45 and 49 completed after the LNP ignored this basic preparation work when they were in power with a record majority.

Northern Gold Coast residents have benefited hugely of course from the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage Two and Coomera to Helensvale rail duplication completed last year by the Palaszczuk Labor Government on top of $160 million in Gold Coast road upgrades leaving a positive legacy from the Games.

Cameron must have picked up and read any one of Campbell Newman’s budgets by accident when not a single new dollar was spent on the M1.

The Palaszczuk Labor Government will continue to invest in Gold Coast infrastructure in this and future budgets because we know infrastructure is critical for one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation.

MARK BAILEY, MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS