KAP says our roads need more

KATTER’S Australia Party Leichhardt candidate Dan McCarthy claims the Far North has been short-changed in the Federal Budget – particular with roads funding.

Mr McCarthy welcomed the Morrison government setting aside $287.2 million for an extension of the National Highway through to Smithfield.

But he said he was disappointed there was no immediate funding beyond that, particularly for the Kuranda Range road.

“A month ago, I released (KAP’s) roads plan,” he said.

“Our plan includes extending the national highway to Weipa, 800km to the north.

“I’m disappointed that the best the government can do is to extend it a measly 15km to Smithfield.”

He said KAP would upgrade the Kuranda Range road to two lanes each way on the existing alignment, with a concrete barrier in the middle to stop head-on crashes. He said without upgrading the road, the government’s proposal was simply “social” infrastructure.

“Our region … desperately requires significant industry enabling infrastructure in order to grow our regional economy, and we need it now,” he said.