HIGHWAY TO SWELL
Palaszczuk blindsides Feds with $755m M2 pledge
A GOLD Coast Federal Minister says State Labor has blindsided it by unveiling a joint $755 million pledge to fund fast-tracking the M2 highway – before the Morrison Government officially agreed.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the election pledge on the Gold Coast, saying it would create 700 jobs by mid-next year.
Bemused Gold Coast Federal Minister Stuart Robert said: “We have been working in good faith about funding the project but the State Government has exercised poor faith by sending a letter to the Federal Government half an hour before their announcement. An agreement has not yet been signed but we will continue to work in good faith because we believe in the Gold Coast.”
A GOLD Coast federal minister says despite being blindsided by state Labor saying a joint $755m M2 funding “deal” would be struck it will continue to work in good faith on it.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made on election pledge on Sunday for an $830m roads and infrastructure package for the Gold Coast.
It includes $755m to fund the 16.6km first stage of the arterial road between Carrara to the Coomera Marine Precinct, dubbed the Coomera Connector and part of the socalled $2bn M2.
Flanked by ministers Cameron Dick and Mark Bailey, Ms Palaszczuk said it would be jointly funded with the federal government, with the cash to be announced in next month’s federal budget.
Ms Palaszczuk said the fast-tracked project would give the Gold Coast a significant economic boost as it tried to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are talking about the projects we need to fast-track the economy on the Gold Coast but more importantly help motorists get home safely,” she said.
“This funding has been approved, it is part of our economic recovery strategy and will mean stage one of the M2 will be able to commence.
“It will mean more than 700 Gold Coast jobs and it is what the community has been telling me this is what they want.
“We are working very confidently with the federal government and we are expecting them to match this. Hopefully they will be able to do this in their budget coming down shortly.”
But the Bulletin can reveal her funding announcement took the Morrison government by surprise, despite months of talks.
The state government sent a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack an hour before the press conference, at his request, formalising the state’s request for funding.
Gold Coast-based federal cabinet minister Stuart Robert said no deal had yet been done but confirmed talks were well underway between Canberra and Brisbane.
“At present we have been working in good faith (with the Palaszczuk government) about funding the project but the state government has exercised poor faith by sending a letter to the federal government half an hour before their announcement,” Mr Robert said.
“An agreement has not yet been signed but we will continue to work in good faith because we believe in the Gold Coast.”
The state government said construction would begin in mid-2021 and run for more than three years.
The funding means the project, expected to create more than 700 jobs, can begin several years earlier than previously expected.
Also announced in the package was more than $78m for other infrastructure projects. That included an upgrade of Ormeau’s troublesome Exit 45, the intersection of Currumbin Creek Road and Bienvenue Street and a facelift for the Coomera railway station park’n’ride.
The six-lane Coomera Connector will eventually stretch 45km from Nerang to Logan.
It is expected to take up to 60,000 vehicles off the M1 and was fully gazetted by the state government last year.
More than $20m is being spent on early works and surveying in preparations for the final business case.
LNP Coomera MP Michael Crandon insisted the project had not received federal funding and, “I’m told the federal government is still going through the business case”.
Acting Mayor Donna Gates welcomed the announcement.
“This is wonderful news for the Gold Coast, in particular our growing suburbs in the north,” she said.
“We have been advocating for this project for quite some time and the infrastructure will be vital to easing congestion as the city continues to grow.
“Now we need to ensure the best amenity and connectivity outcomes for affected residents.”
But Opposition leader Deb Frecklington dismissed the announcement, claiming the project would not be built for another four years.
“Labor’s Coomera Connector promise is a con with not a single dollar committed for a road until after 2024,” she said.
“All Labor has announced is a bridge without a road. The LNP has committed $550m to start building the actual road in 2021.
“The Gold Coast has waited too long for the second M1 under Labor. Labor’s delays have seen the costs of the project double and everyone knows the longer you wait the more it will cost.”
The road, formerly known as the intra-regional transport corridor, has long been part of the state government’s plans to reduce congestion but was dumped by the former Newman government in 2013, against the wishes of the Gold Coast City Council.
The project was restored in 2015, with early scoping works and a $20m business case having already been completed.
AN AGREEMENT HAS NOT YET BEEN SIGNED BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN GOOD FAITH BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE GOLD COAST. STUART ROBERT