Federal Government covering tracks on years of highway neglect

Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, is urging the Federal Government’s Minister for Roads, Jim Lloyd, to stop playing petty politics and come clean with the motorists of North Queensland over flood works.

“The Queensland Government doesn’t pay the bills on the Bruce Highway, it is the Federal Government who decides what to build, when to build it and to what standard,” Mr Lucas said.

“What’s galling for Jim Lloyd is the fact Federal Labor is making the Bruce Highway a priority, which is more than he’s been prepared to do in the past. Mr Lloyd simply needs to do better.

“In fact, it took a category 5 cyclone for the Federal Government to be convinced of the need to come up with a concrete plan for addressing the dire flooding problems on the Bruce Highway.”

Mr Lucas said Mr Lloyd has repeatedly sought to trick the North into believing the $348 million pot of gold he’s allocated to flooding on the Bruce Highway will be a magic bullet, but in reality, is nothing more than a cold and calculated ploy to cover the Federal Government’s track record of neglect in North Queensland.

“What Federal Labor is talking about are future commitments to the Bruce Highway, I’ve heard nothing from Jim Lloyd about this.

“Queensland welcomes the money allocated by the Federal Government in the past, but it won’t finish the job.

“I have repeatedly made it clear that the present funding will not be enough to guarantee the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Cairns won’t flood. We will build the best possible road and provide the best possible value for money with the dollars the Federal Government provides.

“The MulgraveRiverBridge is a good example, in that I’ve been seeking $45 million to value-add flood works to Q50 standard, instead of the $35 million proposed by the Federal Government. My plan will significantly reduce the likelihood of the bridge going under in torrential rain, but so far Canberra has been silent on the proposal.”

When pressed by the Townsville Bulletin (06/02/07) on what sort of flood immunity the Bruce Highway should have, Mr Lloyd attempted to dodge the question by stating, “I don’t think you can put a blanket set of figures on when it could be closed or open.”

“The fact remains, the money won’t be nearly enough to build all of the flood works agreed to with the Federal Government, only a few projects are actually funded to construction under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June last year – and Jim Lloyd knows it”

“He continues to attempt to con North Queenslanders on the delivery of flood works, accusing Queensland of sitting on the money, but is well aware we’re meeting all of the deadlines agreed to with him and his Federal colleagues in writing.

“If the truth be known, it’s Jim Lloyd who’s stalled at the traffic lights. He still hasn’t decided what flood projects he wants to build.”

Mr Lucas said on December 10 last year a meeting was held with Federal roads officials to ascertain which flood projects Canberra wanted to fund on the Bruce Highway but they were unable to provide a decision.

“I then wrote to the Minister seeking clarification but still haven’t had a response.

“We’ve already asked for $40m to construct an upgrade of the Bruce Highway between Townsville’s Woodlands Shopping Centre and Veales Road, yet so far there’s no cheque in the mail

To insist Queensland is literally awash with cash to upgrade the Bruce Highway, not only cruelly pokes fun at those who have had their lives turned upside down by recent flooding, it is also a complete misrepresentation of the facts.

Mr Lucas said North Queensland was entitled to a better deal on their National Highway, but as long as Jim Lloyd and his Sydney-centric Government holds the purse strings, I’m not holding my breath.

Media Contact: Darren Roberts 0448 184566.