BEAUDESERT MP Jon Krause has hit back at this week’s state budget announcement about $20 million of funding for the Mount Lindesay Highway, labelling it “a con”.
“Labor and the Member for Logan must think we’re all mugs,” he said.
“The reality is, there is no money budgeted for the project until July 1, 2019, more than two years away.
“On the busiest stretch of the highway, the federal LNP government is investing way more than state Labor, committing $16m of the $20m to improve intersections at North Maclean.
“All Labor has delivered is a speed camera and lights at Camp Cable Road.”
According to Mr Krause there are no designs ready for improvements to the highway between Park Ridge and Jimboomba.
“Otherwise surely we would have seen them funded to start construction immediately,” he said.
“The RACQ is calling for vital safety upgrades. What has the government been doing for the last two years and four months to plan a Mount Lindesay upgrade?”
Citing the investment program for South Coast Region of Transport and Main Roads, published by the state government in 2016, Mr Krause said: “In relation to the Rosia Road to Stoney Camp Road widening, funding is allocated in 2019/20.”
This contradicts Logan MP Linus Power’s announcement linking the new funding to a 2018 start on the section of road between Rosia Road and Stoney Camp Road.
“The Labor government is treating all Mount Lindesay Highway motorists with utter contempt,” Mr Krause said.
Worst road builders
According to RACQ spokesperson Renee Smith, infrastructure spending is at record lows in Queensland.
“In the last two years Queensland road funding has dropped to the lowest level we’ve seen in a decade,” she said.
“We’ve gone from being one of the nation’s biggest builders of road infrastructure to one of the worst.
“We’re falling behind the rest of the nation when it comes to future proofing our roads and it’s time for the government to start investing where it’s needed.”
Ms Smith said the Mount Lindesay Highway needed serious attention to improve safety, reduce congestion and prepare for future traffic flow.
“While some funding for the highway has been allocated, much more is needed to improve safety issues identified in a review we carried out last year,” she said.
“The stretch between Greenbank and Beaudesert has serious safety concerns including only one lane of traffic in each direction, as well as hazardous roadsides and intersections.
“We’re calling for the rollout of additional lanes, shoulder widening and overtaking lanes to combat these concerns.”