POLITICIANS FIRE BACK: We’ve invested heavily

THE three MPS accused of deserting the Gold Coast by Mayor Tom Tate have fired back, saying the federal government has invested heavily in the region.

“The federal government allocated $1.6bn in funding for new Queensland infrastructure projects in the 2021-22 Budget,” LNP MPS Karen Andrews, Stuart Robert and Angie Bell said in a joint statement on Friday.

“On top of this, the Coalition has heavily invested in Gold Coast infrastructure and priority projects, including:

• $680m for the current upgrades to the M1 from Varsity Lakes to Tugun;

• $750m for the Coomera Connector (second M1);

• $110m to upgrade the M1 bottleneck at Mudgeeraba/ Varsity Lakes;

• $100m upgrades to M1 exits on northern Gold Coast;

• $395.6m for Stage 3 of the light rail;

• $23m to upgrade major roads and intersections;

• $8m for a business case into fast rail from Brisbane to the Gold Coast to reduce commute times;

• $29.5m to improve safety through the Roads to Recovery Program (2019-20 to 2023-24);

• $5m to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects (2020-21 financial year);

• $23m to Gold Coast City Council to fund priority projects (2021-22 financial year);

• $2.6m to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary through the Building Better Regions Fund;

• $300m to assist local businesses and tourism operators through Covid Business Support Program;

• $35m to support local attractions and hospitality businesses through state border closures.

“It is our understanding that the Council of Mayors SEQ has indicated that if the Gold Coast wishes to re-join the group, following its departure in June 2021, it is welcome to do so.

“As committed advocates for the Gold Coast and our constituencies, we want to see the city benefit from the SEQ City Deal. Therefore, we encourage the city to rejoin the Council of Mayors, so that our region has a voice from local government at the negotiation table.”