Palaszczuk Government commits funding for Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrade

The Palaszczuk Government is delivering $44 million to upgrade the Pacific Motorway (M1) between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes.

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the funding represented the Palaszczuk Government’s 20 per cent funding commitment toward the $220 million project.

This week, Building Queensland, the state’s independent infrastructure adviser, declared the upgrade between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes “ready for government investment” in its Infrastructure Priority Pipeline Report.

“The six-laning of the M1 between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes is one of the Palaszczuk Government’s priorities and was recently added to Infrastructure Australia’s Priority Project list,” he said.

“The M1 is a nationally accredited key freight route and forms part of the National Land Transport Network for which the Australian Government has primary funding responsibility.

“At this stage, construction of this project is subject to a federal government funding commitment of 80 per cent of the total cost.

“The Turnbull Government is handing New South Wales $5.64 billion for the M1 on an 80:20 funding split just across the border – we want the same deal on the same road in Queensland.

“The Gold Coast federal LNP MPs have been ineffective in securing the appropriate funding commitment from Malcolm Turnbull to get this project off the ground.

“I am calling on Malcolm Turnbull to stop treating the Gold Coast like a second class city and fund this upgrade using his own funding formula of 80:20. The Gold Coast deserves the same treatment as New South Wales.”

Mr Bailey said six-laning the Pacific Motorway between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes would address serious congestion issues on this section of road, particularly during peak periods.

“The M1 is the highest trafficked road in Queensland with more than 147,000 vehicles and 12,000 heavy vehicles battling congestion on the road each day.

“This upgrade is a vital step in easing congestion and boosting road safety on this stretch of the M1.

“It is also important to get this project off the ground ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.”

The Pacific Motorway upgrade between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes will be funded through the State Infrastructure Fund.

ENDS

Media contact:          Anna Jabour 0429 890 942