Mayor Column May 22nd

This week is National Road Safety Week and it is an important reminder for all of us that every decision we make behind the wheel matters.

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Last week, our region was shaken by another tragic bus crash on the Bruce Highway near Gumlu which was a devastating incident that claimed a life and left many others injured.

My thoughts remain with the victims, their families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this heartbreaking event.

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As Mayor, I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our first responders including Whitsunday Regional Council road crews, who were called in to assist Queensland Police with traffic management at the scene from Thursday evening through to Friday morning.

Our crews worked tirelessly through the night, providing traffic control, advance signage, fatigue-managed shift changes, safety assessments and ongoing site monitoring to help emergency services respond safely and efficiently.

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Their professionalism during such confronting circumstances reflects the vital role local government crews play in supporting our communities during times of crisis.

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Sadly, incidents like this are a sobering reminder that road trauma can happen anywhere, at any time.

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Road safety should not be a political discussion. It’s about people, safety, and making sure regional communities are not forgotten.

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The Bruce Highway is a nationally significant road carrying families, tourists, freight, workers and essential services across vast distances and challenging North Queensland conditions.

In recent years, our region has experienced a number of major incidents, including serious bus crashes, and these tragedies reinforce what many locals already know — the Bruce Highway through our region needs to be prioritised through sustained, targeted safety investment.

That investment must be more than pothole repairs and basic maintenance.

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We need to see critical safety upgrades prioritised across North Queensland, including additional overtaking lanes, road widening, improved guardrails, better wildlife management, safer intersections and more rest areas to help manage driver fatigue.

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These are the kinds of practical safety improvements that save lives, and regional Queensland deserves the same level of focus and investment that is often seen in the south east.

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Regional communities should not have to accept a lower standard of road safety simply because we live outside the south east corner.

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I have been advocating strongly for continued investment in the Bruce Highway, and we are beginning to see important progress through upgrades already underway at Goorganga Plains and Hamilton Plains.

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We acknowledge and appreciate the commitments already being made by both State and Federal Governments, but we must continue working constructively to ensure future upgrades are prioritised where they are needed most.

Regional Queensland contributes enormously to the national economy through tourism, agriculture, resources and freight. Investing in safer, more resilient highways is not just a local issue — it is an investment in the future of Queensland and Australia.

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This week, I encourage everyone to take the road safety pledge: drive so others survive.

Together, we can honour lives lost, support those affected, and continue advocating for safer roads across the Whitsundays and North Queensland.

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