Published Wednesday, 09 July, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Minister endorses draft vision for Whitsunday Way
The Queensland Government and the Whitsunday Regional Council today endorsed an overarching vision statement for the future development of Whitsunday Way (Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road).
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt, Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt and Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker endorsed the vision today at Airlie Beach, saying it was a great example of communities and governments working together.
"The vision incorporates the issues and ideas that the Whitsunday community has raised to guide future planning for Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road," Mr Pitt said.
"This input was collected during the first phase of the community consultation process in late 2007 and then collated by the Project Advisory Committee (PAC), which included representatives from local community groups and government agencies.
"Now that community aspirations have been captured, we have an excellent framework to guide future planning for the road.”
Ms Jarratt said the community-based vision was a testament to the Whitsunday community, which had embraced the consultation process.
"I am pleased to be here today with Mr Pitt and Cr Brunker to endorse the vision," Ms Jarratt said.
"This would not have been possible without the Whitsunday community really getting behind the process."
Cr Brunker said the Whitsunday Regional Council supported the vision.
"The former Whitsunday Shire Council endorsed the draft vision back in March, and the new Whitsunday Regional Council is pleased to confirm its support for the vision today," Cr Brunker said.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the PAC on the next phase of the consultation process and the positive outcomes that the vision will bring to the development of the road."
Mr Pitt said the Whitsunday Way Future Vision information brochure had been released to the Whitsunday community this month.
"The vision will allow Main Roads and Whitsunday Regional Council to work with the community and other stakeholders to plan road infrastructure that meets the traffic and safety needs of the community, and retains the road's appeal as a tourist route."
Mr Pitt said the next step in the consultation process would begin once findings of the Whitsunday Growth Management Initiative (WGMI) were finalised later this year
"The WGMI will provide us with the most up-to-date forecast data on traffic movements and volumes on Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road, allowing us to develop the most suitable solutions," Mr Pitt said.
"Once these statistics are available, information and negotiation sessions will be held with stakeholders to identify options for the road that are consistent with the vision."
The PAC will be briefed on the data prior to these negotiation sessions and will continue to meet each month to help plan for the next stage of the consultation process.
The Whitsunday Way Community Consultation process began in mid-2007 to help channel community input into Main Roads' planning for the future of the Whitsunday Way.
This planning is being conducted in conjunction with the Whitsunday Growth Management Initiative, which is a whole-of-government initiative to plan for the area’s growth in a sustainable way.
The vision can be viewed at www.ebc.net.au/shute, or by contacting the project team on 1300 360 657 (recorded message service) for a copy of the brochure.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Ms Jarratt’s Office 4945 3343
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt, Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt and Whitsunday Mayor Mike Brunker endorsed the vision today at Airlie Beach, saying it was a great example of communities and governments working together.
"The vision incorporates the issues and ideas that the Whitsunday community has raised to guide future planning for Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road," Mr Pitt said.
"This input was collected during the first phase of the community consultation process in late 2007 and then collated by the Project Advisory Committee (PAC), which included representatives from local community groups and government agencies.
"Now that community aspirations have been captured, we have an excellent framework to guide future planning for the road.”
Ms Jarratt said the community-based vision was a testament to the Whitsunday community, which had embraced the consultation process.
"I am pleased to be here today with Mr Pitt and Cr Brunker to endorse the vision," Ms Jarratt said.
"This would not have been possible without the Whitsunday community really getting behind the process."
Cr Brunker said the Whitsunday Regional Council supported the vision.
"The former Whitsunday Shire Council endorsed the draft vision back in March, and the new Whitsunday Regional Council is pleased to confirm its support for the vision today," Cr Brunker said.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the PAC on the next phase of the consultation process and the positive outcomes that the vision will bring to the development of the road."
Mr Pitt said the Whitsunday Way Future Vision information brochure had been released to the Whitsunday community this month.
"The vision will allow Main Roads and Whitsunday Regional Council to work with the community and other stakeholders to plan road infrastructure that meets the traffic and safety needs of the community, and retains the road's appeal as a tourist route."
Mr Pitt said the next step in the consultation process would begin once findings of the Whitsunday Growth Management Initiative (WGMI) were finalised later this year
"The WGMI will provide us with the most up-to-date forecast data on traffic movements and volumes on Proserpine-Shute Harbour Road, allowing us to develop the most suitable solutions," Mr Pitt said.
"Once these statistics are available, information and negotiation sessions will be held with stakeholders to identify options for the road that are consistent with the vision."
The PAC will be briefed on the data prior to these negotiation sessions and will continue to meet each month to help plan for the next stage of the consultation process.
The Whitsunday Way Community Consultation process began in mid-2007 to help channel community input into Main Roads' planning for the future of the Whitsunday Way.
This planning is being conducted in conjunction with the Whitsunday Growth Management Initiative, which is a whole-of-government initiative to plan for the area’s growth in a sustainable way.
The vision can be viewed at www.ebc.net.au/shute, or by contacting the project team on 1300 360 657 (recorded message service) for a copy of the brochure.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Ms Jarratt’s Office 4945 3343