Upgrades to go ahead but no funding in the pipeline

THURINGOWA MP Aaron Harper does not want the upgrades to Riverway Drive Stage 2 to be delayed but couldn’t say why funding for the relocation of a water pipeline had not been included in funding for the upgrades.

The Townsville Bulletin yesterday revealed federal Herbert MP Phillip Thompson and Mr Harper had met to talk about funding for moving or resleeving the pipeline.

Mr Thompson had been unaware the pipeline needed to be moved and did not believe it was included in the funding allocated in the federal budget.

But a Townsville City Council spokesman said the roadworks could not begin on Riverway Drive Stage 2 until a decision was made about moving the pipeline.

A spokesman for federal Infrastructure Minister Michael Mccormack said the project’s scope would be informed by planning and development works and would be agreed in consultation with the Queensland government.

“These planning and development works will include investigation of the public utilities in the project area and consideration to what relocation works will be required to allow construction to start,” the spokesman said.

Mr Harper said the pipeline would be sorted out. The state MP said he wanted part of the leftover $195m Haughton Pipeline funding for this piece of “critical infrastructure”.

Mr Harper said he and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey had lobbied directly with the Federal Government for the upgrades to Riverway Drive – not Mr Thompson. “We’re going to get on with it, but he’s got the opportunity to put the icing on the cake,” Mr Harper said.