Logan Mayor Luke Smith has expressed his disappointment at a decision by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull not to meet with a Queensland delegation to discuss the M1 funding stale-mate.
The delegation, to be led by Transport Minister Mark Bailey had requested the meeting in mid-July.
However Mr Turnbull’s office informed Mr Bailey the delegation would be offered a hearing with Infrastructure Minister Darren Chester and Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher.
The M1 Pacific Motorway is nominated on the National Key Freight Route Map released by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
It is also identified as non-urban on the National Land Transport Network – a defined national network of important road infrastructure links that has recently attracted the 80:20 funding split for the Gateway Arterial Upgrade North and the Bruce and Warrego highways.
“We are genuinely frustrated that on the same road that crosses the border into NSW they are only offering a 50:50 funding split, while NSW received 80:20,” Cr Smith said.
Mr Bailey has accused the prime minister of passing the buck.
“It’s extremely disappointing that upgrading the M1 is not a priority for the Prime Minister who has passed the buck and refused to meet the M1 taskforce,” he said.
“The M1 delegation all agreed, that the Federal Government should honour their own funding model of an 80:20 split, exactly the same funding model they use on the same road just across the border in NSW.
“The M1 is the highest trafficked road in Queensland and is a highway of national significance.
“Yet, the Federal Government insists on ripping off Queensland with an unfair 50:50 split funding offer.
“Regrettably, the sitting Gold Coast and Logan LNP MPs, both federal and state, have been ineffective in delivering real infrastructure funding for their communities.
“They have no influence on their Canberra colleagues.”
