Blues finally pay their way

A GOLD Coast MP is claiming an early State of Origin victory after Australia’s most expensive road was handed to NSW to maintain.

The Tugun Bypass opened in 2008 at a record cost of $543 million. Despite 60 per cent of the bypass being south of the border, the NSW Government refused to contribute a cent to the 7km road.

But after refusing to help build the bypass or fund its annual multimillion-dollar upkeep – it even handed Queensland a $236,000 land tax bill for building the road in NSW – operation and maintenance for the bypass has finally been handed to the Berejiklian Government.

Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey said it was high time.

“This road has cost Queensland taxpayers a fortune – it cost over $540 million to build and has cost us $70 million to operate and upkeep,” she said.