The Queensland Government has announced an exciting opportunity for local residents, businesses and road users to have their voices heard about the future of the Bruce Highway. As part of a long-term commitment to improve road safety and capacity, the state government will re-establish the Bruce Highway Advisory Council (BHAC) by the end of 2024. This is a significant step forward for the region, and residents of Mackay, Whitsundays, and surrounding areas are encouraged to play a part in the process.
The Bruce Highway is a vital corridor connecting the communities of Queensland, from the Far North to the Sunshine Coast. It serves as the main route for thousands of commuters, freight operators and tourists, but it also faces challenges, particularly in the Mackay and Whitsunday region, which has long been plagued by safety concerns and congestion. Now, the government is calling for local representatives who regularly use the highway to help shape the future of this essential infrastructure.
Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton assured the region that the state government is getting to work on a long-term plan to fix the Bruce Highway by re-establishing the Bruce Highway Advisory Council.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg emphasised the importance of local voices in the decision-making process.
“It’s important we listen to our regional communities to be able to deliver the upgrades that are so desperately needed to the Bruce Highway,” Mr Mickelberg says.
“We want to hear from a broad cross section of people who drive the Bruce Highway regularly from the Far North to south of the Sunshine Coast, whether they be truck drivers, local commuters or interested stakeholders.”
The Crisafulli government is seeking expressions of interest from Queenslanders who have firsthand experience using the Bruce Highway and can identify key locations that require attention.
Those living in Mackay and the Whitsunday region, where the highway has some of its most challenging sections, are strongly encouraged to submit nominations. The areas most in need of attention include sections notorious for accidents, as well as areas prone to flooding and congestion. Having a seat at the table on the BHAC will allow regional residents to highlight their unique needs and advocate for improvements that matter most to the local community.
The focus of the re-established BHAC will be on road safety, with a particular emphasis on identifying priority locations for investment. The Council will play an instrumental role in advising the government on the sequencing of key upgrades along the highway. While issues like flood resilience and capacity will be addressed, road safety remains a top priority, particularly in areas like Mackay and the Whitsundays, where hazardous sections of the Bruce Highway have been identified as high-risk.
Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox has also weighed in on the urgency of addressing the state of the highway, particularly the stretch between Mackay and Townsville.
“There have been several reports recently that have identified the section of the Bruce that runs through Dawson as having the worst safety rating for the entire highway,” said Willcox.
“I don’t support the current funding arrangement of 50-50 from the Federal and State Government.
“The original arrangement of 80-20 needs to be restored to look after the roads and infrastructure in Far North Queensland.”
The current safety concerns along the Bruce Highway are alarming, with Andrew Wilcox MP saying, “Every day on Australian roads, on average three people are killed and 100 people are seriously injured.”
“These deaths may have been prevented if the busy highway was up to scratch.”
This is an opportunity for local residents to directly influence the government’s road upgrade plans and ensure that their voices are heard when it comes to prioritising safety and infrastructure improvements on the Bruce Highway. For this plan to be truly effective, it is essential that regional Queenslanders are at the forefront of the discussion.
With the BHAC’s first meeting set for December 2024, there is no time to waste for interested locals to submit their expressions of interest.
Interested residents in Mackay and the Whitsunday region must submit their applications by 5pm on Friday, 29 November 2024.
For more information and to apply, visit the Queensland Government’s Transport and Main Roads website.
Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, doesn’t support the current funding arrangement of 50-50 from the federal and state governments for roading infrastructure and is calling on the 80-20 model to be reinstated. Photos supplied
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