Western Brisbane Bypass
Wednesday, 18 April 2007 10:00
I am deeply concerned with the State Government’s recent announcement that a $17million study into the Western Brisbane Bypass will proceed.
The State Government has refused to identify the potential routes that they are studying.
The State Government’s SEQ infrastructure plan infers that their proposed route for a Western Brisbane Bypass, would be at the back of Mt Coot-tha through Brisbane Forest Park, Brookfield, and the Gap. You can view the Government’s map of the proposed route by clicking here. A better option preferred by myself, the State Coalition and Lord Mayor Campbell Newman would link the Warrego Highway along the alignment of the present Brisbane Valley Highway to the Bruce Highway in the north. Advantages of the Brisbane Valley option are that it already contains a road corridor and is sparsely populated for most of its length. It would not bisect Brisbane forest park. In addition, the Warrego Highway is being linked to the Cunningham Highway by a State Government constructed road. This would in effect complete a bypass around Ipswich and link directly with growth areas such as the Ripley Valley without forcing vehicles to come to the Brisbane side of Ipswich in order to access a route through the Brookfield area.
Despite repeated questioning both in front of 500 people at the recent Goodna bypass public meeting and direct to the Queensland Roads Minister, at no stage has the State Government answered my question as to whether the Brisbane Valley option will be considered as part of their $17 million dollar study. Their refusal to answer is in fact an answer in itself and the answer is clearly that the Brisbane Valley option is not part of the $17 million dollar study.
I intend to continue pressuring the State Government to explain why they are intent on condemning the residents of Western Brisbane to a new road corridor without even seriously studying the practical options available. You can read my speech to Parliament on this matter by clicking here.