Photo caption: Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey met with Member for Mackay Julieanne Gilbert to inspect the region’s roads following this month’s flooding event. Photo credit: Office of Julieanne Gilbert
Caption: Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox said he has driven the length of the Bruce Highway in the Dawson electorate since the flooding event and challenged Minister Mark Bailey to do the same. Photo credit: Office of Andrew Willcox MP
“Flood resilient upgrades along the Bruce Highway delivered by the Palaszczuk Government have stood up to the test of a recent heavy rain event which impacted Central and Northern Queensland,” the State Government said in a recent press release, however both federal and local LNP members have said this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey was in Mackay last week, inspecting some of the damage to the Mackay and Whitsundays region, saying many communities which would have once been cut-off in similar events have stayed connected.
"The Palaszczuk Labor Government has 106 Bruce Highway projects funded and underway right now, including 45 in construction, as part of a massive $13 billion pipeline of joint funding locked in over the next 15 years," Mr Bailey said.
"Flood resilience is one of the three major scopes of the current $13 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program, and the flood resilient projects we have delivered have stood up to the test of months' worth of rain hitting Central and North Queensland in just a few days.
Minister Bailey said he visited the $145 Mackay Northern Access Upgrade on the Bruce, which was opened late last year, saying it “has held up incredibly well despite the big downpour, as has the $500 million Mackay Ring Road on the Bruce, which we opened in 2020.
"We also contributed funding for the drainage upgrades at Archibald and Milton Streets in Mackay, which traditionally cut access to the airport when they flooded, and they too have held up well.”
Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox hit back saying the minister’s comments couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I am very concerned that the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, came to Mackay to inspect how our roads have held up during the floods, and come to the conclusion that they are good,” Mr Willcox said.
“The fact that he only visited newly built roads to form this conclusion is pure madness.
“The State Member for Mackay should know her constituents are tired of battling constant road work delays and are now dealing with immense flooding damage on the Bruce Highway which is unsafe for motorists and costing locals thousands in repairs.
“It is negligent of the State Member for Mackay to be fully aware of the disgraceful and dangerous condition of our main highway and not lobby her Minister for action! Instead, they revisit recently completed roadworks,” Mr Willcox added.
“The Minister has accused me of “going rouge” all because I am calling for the State Government to take our road safety seriously – this is the same Government who has been in power for 27 out of 30 years.
“The first thing I have done since the roads have re-opened is drive from one end of the Dawson electorate to the other, from Mackay through to Townsville. I know exactly what condition the Bruce Highway is in.
“I invite Minister Bailey to do the same.”
Minister Bailey said that "Right up and down the Bruce, the projects the Palaszczuk Labor Government have delivered are doing their job.
"It's a stark contrast to the LNP who, when David Crisafulli was a minister in the Newman Government, delivered just four projects on the entire Bruce Highway, one of them was an audit report, and two others were fully funded by the Federal Government.
"Just four projects from the LNP compared to 106 projects being delivered right now by the Palaszczuk Labor Government.
"Not to mention that David Crisafulli, Amanda Camm and the LNP lied to Queenslanders before the last state election with their Bruce Highway duplication hoax, which was exposed to be only a planning study with no funding for upgrades.”
Member for Whitsundays Amanda Camm said Minister Bailey’s comments were “disrespectful” and “out of touch”.
“Given the Minister flew in and out of Mackay to inspect an inner-city project that was 80 per cent funded by the former Federal demonstrated arrogance and out of touch he really is,” Ms Camm said.
“His comments were an insult to every resident across Mackay and the Whitsundays who was isolated from their jobs, their hospital, and critical services.
“Minister Bailey demonstrates every day the lack of consultation and arrogance through the Hamilton Plains Project that has not commenced in seven years, the Shute Harbour Road upgrades that will now be littered with traffic lights against the communities wishes and the Northern Beaches Mackay-Bucasia Road where there is no plan for duplication, upgrades, or alternative access.
“A Minister who lists announcements yet has delivered no outcomes evidenced everyday by the sub-standard roads and boat-ramps our region must put up with."
Mr Bailey said the Queensland Government will continue to deliver more flood resilient projects along the Bruce Highway, and deliver a Second Bruce Highway to provide an alternative during rain events like the one we have just seen.
"At 1,679km long the Bruce Highway is a massive stretch of road, and there's no denying we still have work to do, but it's clear we are delivering and have a credible plan for the future," he said.
"Our future plan for the Bruce includes flood resilience improvements on projects like the 26km long Gympie Bypass project, the 15km long Rockhampton Ring Road, the 9km long Tiaro Bypass, and the almost 30km of flood resilient stretch being delivered as part of the Townsville Ring Road and Townsville Northern Access projects, just to name a few.
"But we know the North Queensland coastline usually cops it worst in summer during the wet and cyclone season, and that's why we're building a second Bruce Highway from Charters Towers to Mungindi which was bagged by the LNP when we announced it in 2020.
"The Inland Freight Route (or 'Second Bruce') will provide a genuine alternative to keep supplies coming into Central and Northern Queensland communities during the wet season or a cyclone.
"There is more than $1 billion in joint funding committed to upgrade the Gregory, Dawson, and Carnarvon Highways to provide a real alternative to the Bruce during the wet season, and also get more trucks off the Bruce all year round.
"The inland link to Mackay will also soon be bolstered by the $186 million Walkerston Bypass where construction is progressing well and is on track to be completed next year."
