Qld Labor - Get The Job Done Or Get Out Of Our Road

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox was delighted to see crews finally setting up to recommence works on the deserted roadworks between Proserpine and Bowen this week.

Construction halted on three projects between Emu Creek and Drays Road, and Bowen Connection Road and Champion Street in 2022 following the contractor WBHO Infrastructure Pty Ltd going into voluntary administration.

The roadworks have sat dormant for 12 months causing locals and visitors to Dawson much frustration.

“Our people have had enough. We have been dealing with dangerous road conditions, lowered speed limits and extra fuel costs travelling through these dormant road works for what feels like forever. I have been jumping up and down over this issue since I was elected back in May 2022.” Andrew Willcox said

The previous Coalition Government committed $10 billion towards much needed safety upgrades on the Bruce while the State Government contributed $2.6 billion. This is my constituents hard earned tax dollars just sitting dormant while we urgently need our Bruce upgraded.”

The urgency for upgrades rang home during the recent flood event which saw the Bruce in the northern region cut off in 12 areas due to the severe weather and rainfall.

“The north had travellers stranded everywhere, we couldn’t get food trucks through, and people couldn’t get to work or to medical appointments, yet our State Labor Minister for Transport and Main Roads and local Labor Member for Mackay said that our roads held up well. The Member’s job is to lobby her city centric Minister for our fair share and she just isn’t doing that for her people.”  Andrew Willcox said.

“Another example of the Qld Labor Government not taking our safety seriously and sitting on Federal Funding is the Goorganga flood plains.  $12 million of funding was committed from the Coalition Government and year after year we watch that area flood and cut off. Yet we still have no planning in place to have this fixed.

“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.

Once again, my people’s hard earned tax dollars are just sitting dormant with State Labor Government, and the sad reality is by the time Labor get their act together they will be asking the Federal Government for more funding for these projects due to cost blowouts.

It’s just not good enough.

“I will not stop urging the Queensland Government to prioritise road safety for the people of Dawson, either get the job done or get out of our ROAD.” Mr Willcox said