Politicians urged to prioritise road safety in Wide Bay
The State’s peak motoring body is calling on all political parties and candidates to green light vital road projects in the Wide Bay and Burnett regions in a bid to save lives and drive investment.
The State’s peak motoring body is calling on all political parties and candidates to green light vital road projects in the Wide Bay and Burnett regions in a bid to save lives and drive investment.
RACQ Head of Public Policy Susan Furze said road safety needed to be front of mind for present and future leaders in the upcoming federal election.
“Last year the electorate of Wide Bay had 18 road deaths, while nine people were killed in the Hinkler electorate,” Ms Furze said.
“Crashes are preventable and have devastating flow-on effects for the families of those who have died and their communities.
“Investment in road safety does make a difference and we’re calling for further commitment to key projects to generate jobs, save lives and drive productivity.”
RACQ’s priority projects in the Wide Bay and Burnett region include:
- Accelerating all Bruce Highway Upgrade Program projects by increasing annual funding by 50%, including additional maintenance activities
- Delivering a safety works package* along the Burnett Highway, including flood immunity improvements to provide an alternative route to the Bruce Highway
- Delivering a safety works package along the D’Aguilar Highway from Caboolture to Kingaroy
- Delivering a safety works package for the Isis Highway, Bundaberg-Gin Gin Road, Bundaberg-Miriam Vale Road and Goodwood Road
- Increasing investment in the Federal Road Safety Program and bolstering maintenance funding allocations to deliver safer, stronger and more resilient regional roads.
- Immediate funding for the Bundaberg flood levee.
Ms Furze said the next Federal Government must make the Bruce Highway a priority.
“A funding boost for the Bruce Highway is desperately needed to accelerate the delivery of vital upgrades,” Ms Furze said.
“We’re also calling for additional funding to modernise Queensland’s transport and energy systems by trialling emerging fuel, charging, energy storage and energy production technology including solar, hydrogen, community grids and micro-grids.”
RACQ is also urging both sides of government to help expand the national electric vehicle fast-charging network, and progress public access to the EV fast charger network as identified in Infrastructure Australia’s Infrastructure Priority List.
To view RACQ’s election priorities click here.