Labor plan to destroy 100 homes and businesses

The Queensland Government is demanding Labor withdraw its support for the botched Cross River Rail project that would have resulted in 108 properties being demolished and communities being destroyed.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said while the LNP government has a strong plan for a brighter future with no property resumptions, Labor has no plan other than to bring back a project that destroys local communities.

“The Labor Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk wants the government to deliver their failed unfunded Cross River Rail Project,” Mr Emerson said.

“The fact is support for Cross River Rail means support for destroying more than 100 homes and businesses.

“Labor need to stand up today and rule out its support of a project that has a devastating impact to communities, like Yeerongpilly, particularly when there is a much better alternative.

“Unlike Labor’s Cross River Rail project, the BaT Tunnel fixes capacity issues for both buses and trains, costs $3 billion less, and homes and businesses will not be resumed.”

Mr Emerson said work has begun to revitalise areas such as Yeerongpilly that were left devastated by the former Labor government.

“When she was Transport Minister, Ms Palaszczuk spent $32 million of taxpayer money purchasing up to 65 properties, which Labor planned to raze, on a project it knew it could never afford,” Mr Emerson said.

“The Opposition Leader already had to apologise to parliament after falsely claiming the Cross River Rail project was fully costed. Now she should rule out the community-destroying plan completely.

“We have already sold seven properties, purchased under Labor’s bungled Cross River Rail project, with another four under contract.

“Unlike Labor, we are working hard to restore this community for residents and local businesses.

“While we have already started returning properties to market, we need to ensure we re-establish a community, rather than flood the market.”

Out of the 108 sites that were going to be resumed, 82 were in the Yeerongpilly area, making it the most impacted suburb.

[ENDS] 30 June 2014

Media contact: Stephanie Shield 0418 186 625