Thursday, August 24, 2023

Issue:

Mackay and Whitsunday Life

Willcox Slams Flood-Vulnerable Roads

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP, has vented his frustration about the lack of funding given to flood-proof our local roads, stating that the government have been too slow to use over $30 million that has been allocated to provide improvements to two known flood spots.

The region is slowly returning to normal following last week’s flooding disaster which saw the Whitsundays become like an “island” where the Bruce Highway was completely cut-off from both the north and the south for four days.

During this time hundreds of people were displaced or stranded and the direct line for supplies were cut leaving supermarket shelves bare for days and farmers unable to transport produce.

Mr Willcox believes the delays and disruption were highly unnecessary and could have been avoided if the allocated government funding had been used to make improvements as promised.

“Our Bruce Highway is an essential route for locals and tourists. Its closure has been a stark reminder of how vital it is,” he said.

“Flooding events in the tropics are common and our major highway should be able to withstand these kind of weather events.

“The flooding of the Bruce Highway has resulted in a hit to our local economy, with businesses shutting, people not being able to get to work, and goods not being delivered to towns.

“Towns like Ayr and Bowen couldn’t get grocery supplies delivered to them when the road was closed.

Frustrated by delays and budget cuts, Mr Willcox says the Whitsundays should get what it deserves in terms of flood protection and an accessible highway.

“In places like Goorganga flood plains, $12 million of funding from the Coalition Government has been lying dormant because the state government have failed to come up with a plan. It’s a disgrace,” he said.

“In my time as Mayor of the Whitsunday Regional Council I lobbied and secured almost $30 million from the previous Coalition Government to provide flood immunity to Hamilton Plains, the main connection from Airlie Beach to Proserpine.

“Why has this vital work not been completed? I will continue push the State Government on this issue.”

When Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King was asked about flood proofing the highway on Wednesday, she failed to commit any funding to the flood affected highway.

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Bridget McKenzie, has been to Dawson to advocate for upgrades to the Bruce Highway, however, Mr Willcox believes that it’s time for Minister King to come North and see why “we’re crying out for funding”.

“I will gladly give the Minister a tour of the Bruce to show the condition it is in,” he said.

Mr Willcox is also dismayed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese didn’t look at the roads when he visited the region last week.

“I was disappointed that he didn’t see the dismal state of our highway or meet with his state government counterparts to hold them to account on the progress of the upgrades,” said Mr Willcox.

Since 2013, the Federal Coalition Government had a 10-year, $10 billion commitment to upgrade the Bruce Highway, to improve safety and flood immunity and bust congestion to reduce travel times for motorists and freight.

With the regional elements of the Bruce Highway program funded on an 80:20 basis, the Coalition’s $10 billion commitment to the Bruce Highway has contributed to most of the funding to the Queensland Government’s $13 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program.

In the October 2022 Budget, Federal Labor made several decisions to cut funding to specific Bruce Highway upgrade projects over the forward estimates. These funds have been ‘reprofiled’ to years beyond the forward estimates.


Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says our highways should not have flooded if allocated funding had been spent on improvements. Photo supplied

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