Sunshine Coast politicians urged to prioritise road safety
The State’s peak motoring body is calling on all political parties and candidates to green light vital road projects in the Sunshine Coast region in a bid to save lives and drive investment in the region.
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 Fairfax electorate had seven deaths on its roads, six were killed on roads in the Fisher electorate, while in the Wide Bay electorate, another 18 people were killed in crashes,” 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 on the Sunshine Coast include:
- Accelerating all Bruce Highway Upgrade Program projects by increasing annual funding by 50%, including additional maintenance activities
- Delivering a safety works package* on the D’Aguilar Highway from Caboolture to Kingaroy
- Additional funding to complete Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade
- Increasing investment in the Federal Road Safety Program and bolstering maintenance funding allocations to deliver safer, stronger and more resilient regional roads.
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.