NQ politicians urged to prioritise road safety
The State’s peak motoring body has put politicians on notice and called for vital road projects in the Townsville region to be to be funded in a bid to save lives and drive investment in north Queensland.
RACQ Head of Public Policy Susan Furze said road safety needed to be at front of mind for present and future leaders in north Queensland in the upcoming federal election.
“Last year the electorate of Kennedy had the highest road toll in the State with 33 deaths, while two people were killed on roads in the Herbert electorate,” she said.
“Crashes are preventable and have devastating flow-on effects for the families of those killed 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 Townsville include:
- Accelerating all Bruce Highway Upgrade Program projects by increasing annual funding by 50%, including additional maintenance activities
- Committing to a safety works package* on the Gregory Developmental Road, including bridge and flood immunity improvements, to provide a more suitable inland alternative to the Bruce Highway
- Completing dual lane seal along the Hann Highway (Kennedy Developmental Road)
- Delivering a safety works package* on the Flinders Highway, including road maintenance and strengthening improvements, flood immunity improvements and overtaking lanes
- Increasing investment in the Federal Road Safety Program and bolstering maintenance funding allocations to deliver safer, stronger and more resilient regional roads.
Additionally, RACQ is calling for increased investment in natural disaster resilience and mitigation measures.
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.
*Safety works packages include lane and shoulder widening, safety barriers or removal of roadside hazards, intersection improvements and additional overtaking lanes/opportunities.