Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
The Bruce Highway at Goorganga Plains remains under scrutiny as residents push for resurfacing works and long-term upgrades to improve safety and flood resilience. Photo source: Courier Mail
By Chelsea Ravizza
More than 700 people have signed a petition spearheaded by Proserpine resident Denise Hadley calling for urgent improvements to the Bruce Highway through Goorganga Plains between Proserpine and Bloomsbury.
Ms Hadley first raised concerns in May 2025, speaking publicly about the deteriorating condition of the road and the safety risks it posed to motorists, and exactly a year later, she launched a formal petition, urging the community to support her calls for action.
“We need action from local authorities to rectify the condition of Goorganga Plains [and] together, we can make our voices heard and ensure safe roads for everyone,” she said.
Over the past 13 months, Ms Hadley has continued to advocate for upgrades and liaise directly with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), describing the section of highway as dangerous and increasingly difficult to navigate. As part of her petition, she has called for the road surface to be resurfaced and for ongoing maintenance to ensure the highway remains safe for all users.
“It’s still a work in progress. I think we have achieved a lot of good stuff, [but] time will tell. We’ll fight the fight, and I will be the squeaky wheel until somebody listens to me.”
Initially announced in June 2024, the $470 million Goorganga Floodplain Upgrade is designed to improve flood resilience along the Bruce Highway between O'Connell River and Proserpine, while also delivering overtaking lanes to enhance safety and traffic flow. However, two years later, many motorists, like Ms Hadley, continue to raise concerns about the condition of the existing road surface.
TMR said it’s aware of community concerns regarding recent maintenance works at Goorganga Plains and reaffirmed its commitment to improving the condition of the Bruce Highway.
“Recent resurfacing works were impacted by unexpected rainfall, causing damage to part of the new surface,” a TMR spokesperson said.
“Priority repairs were completed under reduced speed limits to maintain safety and keep the highway operational, with final microsurfacing works scheduled for early June. The Australian and Queensland governments have committed funding to upgrade and improve flood immunity across the Goorganga floodplain, with planning underway for the Bruce Highway (Mackay-Proserpine) O’Connell River to Proserpine (Goorganga Floodplain) upgrade project.”
TMR said crews were applying two layers of micro-asphalt to improve ride quality, while overtaking lane upgrades would be delivered over coming months. Identified potholes have also been referred for priority maintenance. As part of longer-term plans for the Bruce Highway, a new section of road will be constructed adjacent to the existing alignment. The upgraded route will be built at a higher elevation and designed with flood immunity as a priority, improving reliability and safety during major weather events. TMR expects the project will be completed by 2032.
Whitsunday Regional Council welcomed planning for the jointly funded Goorganga Floodplain Upgrade and proposed overtaking lanes, describing them as important long-term projects aimed at improving safety, flood resilience and reliability along this critical section of the Bruce Highway.
A Whitsunday Regional Council spokesperson said council regularly received feedback regarding transport and road safety issues and recognised the importance of the Bruce Highway to residents, businesses and visitors.
“Whitsunday Regional Council is aware there has been ongoing community feedback and public discussion regarding conditions through sections of the Goorganga Plains area of the Bruce Highway, including concerns relating to ride quality, temporary line markings, traffic management and flood impacts following recent resurfacing works and weather events,” the spokesperson said.
Council assured it will continue advocating for infrastructure investment that improves connectivity, resilience and safety across the region.
Ms Hadley's campaign has also attracted the attention of Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox, who said he had received a “steady stream of correspondence from deeply frustrated motorists regarding the state of Goorganga Plains” in recent months.
“Immediate, practical action is absolutely required to keep motorists safe while the major upgrade is finalised,” he said.
Mr Willcox said his advocacy for improvements at Goorganga Plains dated back to his time as Whitsunday Regional Council mayor and that he understood residents' concerns.
“The Bruce Highway is the absolute economic and social spine of North Queensland,” he said.
“Every single time the Goorganga Plain floods, the Whitsundays is completely cut off from Mackay, stalling freight, strangling tourism, and leaving regional families stranded without a safe diversion route. It isolates the north from the south, delaying critical shipments across the Queensland coast, costing millions of dollars in lost productivity.
“Building true flood resilience and safety into this corridor is one of the things I am most passionate about. It is the core driving force behind my longstanding Back the Bruce campaign, and it remains an unwavering priority for my time in government."
Mr Willcox also praised Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm for her advocacy on Bruce Highway upgrades, including the Goorganga Plains overtaking lanes project.
“I have been in contact with Ms Camm to ensure that TMR addresses these immediate safety issues through the area,” he said.
“I will continue to use my platform in Canberra to fight for our Back the Bruce campaign, ensuring that when the Coalition forms government federally, we deliver the significant cash injection needed to get real investment for Dawson’s sections of the Bruce Highway.”
Ms Camm said she had also received feedback from residents and had sought an update from TMR.
“I am aware of the concerns being raised by local residents,” she said.
“The proposed Goorganga Plains Floodplain Upgrade remains an important project for the Whitsundays, and the Crisafulli Government remains committed to improving and upgrading the Bruce Highway for regional Queensland.”
Ms Hadley’s e-petition can be accessed via www.change.org/p/fix-goorganga-pains, and additional information regarding the Goorganga Floodplain Upgrade Project can be found via www.tmr.qld.gov.au.
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