Connecting SEQ 2031 and Grandview Road
Wednesday, 26 October 2011 09:50
October 25 2011
MOTION - Connecting SEQ 2031
Dr FLEGG (Moggill—LNP) (5.55 pm): Recently I saw a photograph circulated that was takenfrom space of the Korean Peninsula. It showed the southern part of the peninsula illuminated by the lights of countless cities while the northern part of the peninsula was in total darkness. There was nothing at all. The only thing I have ever seen that quite rivalled that photograph from space is the map of transport projects for Brisbane when one looks at the western suburbs of Brisbane where there is just darkness. This expensive document that those opposite have circulated is just one more example of this government—that has had 20 years but has delivered nothing—getting up and saying to Queenslanders, ‘Oh, but we have a plan. Let’s try to convince Queenslanders before the election that maybe we have a plan. Let’s get them to think, “Well, perhaps we might do something.”’ It is too late. Queenslanders are not going to fall for that again. We have had health action plans and water plans. We have had a plan for almost anything at all.
The document in question makes very interesting reading. I am sure not very many people got through to page 139, but if they go past the glossy photograph of the minister and the Premier, past the misleading and incomplete information, past the $227 billion of unfunded projects and then to page 139 they would see it there at the top of the page. Let me read it out. It states—
Connecting SEQ 2031 does not in any way represent an infrastructure commitment by the government and in no way binds the government to deliver any particular piece of infrastructure.
The government is condemned from the words of its own glossy brochure. It is already softening up Queenslanders for the fact that, yet again, it will not be delivering on what it has given people the impression it will be delivering. Out in the western suburbs of Brisbane we do not have a bus lane. We have one park and ride in the largest state seat in the area of Brisbane. We have places that are so dangerous that people are not game to walk across the road to catch the bus. Let me read from a letter from one person about the bus stop on Grandview Road. I have warned this government for years that this will be the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident. This is one of numerous reports that come into my office about this incredibly dangerous piece of public transport infrastructure. The letter states—Recently, whilst picking up my children from the bus stop, I was witness to a young boy being hit by a car whilst trying to cross the road.
The student, from BBC, was aged approximately 13 years. Fortunately, the driver of this car was driving extremely carefully and managed to stop and just touch him and therefore prevent serious injury. I have no doubt this boy could easily have been killed.The car pulled over and a passenger went to check on the boy. I stayed with the lady driver who was highly distressed. They had 3 children in the car.
The driver of that car also contacted my office and said that they witnessed similar near misses every day at this bus stop. I have been out there and once I walked across the road myself at that bus stop. I would not walk across there again. Even the department has accepted that it is dangerous, but there is no plan to put in a set of lights or a safe crossing. Let us have some action and deliver on something and not have more expensive waste of time—(Time expired)