Alternative motorway in first gear
THE State Government is being accused of moving too slowly on building a second Pacific Motorway after providing only a $2 million spend over the next 12 months.
A search of the Budget papers yesterday did not provide details of the so-called Coomera Connector.
But the Gold Coast Bulletin was told forward planning by Main Roads, due to be released soon, shows the highway’s future funding course.
The Government has allocated $2 million in 2018-19 out of a total spend of $5 million to plan the 36.5km highway between Stapylton and Nerang.
The alternative motorway is tipped to take 60,000 cars off the M1, but there are disputes between the Government and Opposition about costing.
The Opposition has costed the highway at $500 million with the state LNP promising to fund half the cost with the Commonwealth.
The pledge was made before last year’s state election after a campaign and series of reports by the Bulletin showed sections of the M1 would reach gridlock within 18 months.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey predicts the alternative motorway’s cost will be closer to $2.4 billion.
Labor’s focus in yesterday’s Budget remained on upgrading the M1 and the Oxenford Exit 57 interchange.
Gold Coast LNP frontbencher Ros Bates rejected Government suggestions the alternative road required land resumptions.
She said LNP investigations showed no more land was needed from Nerang to Jacobs Well.
“It’s a piece of dirt with nothing on it waiting for a road to be built,” Ms Bates told the Bulletin.
“There will be no impact on existing homeowners. Labor’s Transport Minister Mark Bailey is just making more excuses.
“This is a gazetted corridor and Labor needs to get on with the planning and design of a second M1.”
Ms Bates said the LNP had the funding on the table to bust Gold Coast traffic congestion and ensure commuters were able to return home much sooner and safer.
“Labor keeps talking about speed limit reviews and aren’t planning for future growth,” Ms Bates said.
“(Premier) Annastacia Palaszczuk cut infrastructure by $3 billion a year for three years and is now trying to play catchup. It’s not good enough.”
It came as hundreds of millions of dollars were committed to the upgrade of the M1 from Mudgeeraba to Tugun.
These include $70 million for the under-construction widening of the Pacific Motorway from four to six lanes between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes.
A further $17 million went to the widening of the M1 between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill in Brisbane and $5 million to the widening between Varsity Lakes and Tugun.
These funds are the first of a total of $897.5 million being spent on the M1 upgrades after a deal was struck last month between the State and Federal governments.
Treasurer Jackie Trad yesterday defended increasing the state’s borrowings to fast-track the works, saying Gold Coast drivers would have been stuck in congestion and waiting for a further four years had the decision not been made.