Isaac mayor Kelly Vea Vea calls for federal funding to fix Peak Downs Highway, coal roads
A Queensland coal community is calling on the federal government to pay a return on their contribution by upgrading the highway to hell in and out of the region.
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A coalfields mayor is, once again, calling on the federal government to give them a fair go on their roads.
In the 2024 state election, Isaac received a promise of $157m from the Labor government to upgrade its coal roads, overshadowing the LNPs $20m pledge solely to the Peak Downs Highway.
Ahead of the May 3 Federal Election, Isaac council mayor Kelly Vea Vea said it was time her region saw a return on their coal “in the form of road investment”.
“Every Australian benefits from the hard work of Isaac’s communities, but our roads are simply not built to handle the sheer volume and size of vehicles it now faces,” Ms Vea Vea said.
Since 2001 the Peak Downs Highway has been the site of an estimated 904 traffic crashes and between 2009 and 2019, 49 people lost their lives on the road.
Cornel Viljoen was killed on the Peak Downs Highway in October 2024, when his motorbike collided with a road train and a 57-year-old West Mackay man died when the Ford Ranger he was driving rolled down an embankment near Epsom.
Ms Vea Vea is telling the federal government her region needs $103.5m a year for five years to deliver upgrades.
“Fit for purpose road infrastructure means the safety of workers, communities, and the long-term sustainability of key industries, including resources, renewable energy, and agriculture,” Ms Vea Vea said.
Ms Vea Vea’s wants to use the money to upgrade the two main road corridors in and out of the region, advocating for $192.5m over five years to the Peak Downs Highway from Nebo to Moranbah (20km, $50m) and Moranbah to Clermont (57km, $142.5m).
She is also pushing for $325m over five years to upgrade the Peak Downs Mine Road, Saraji Road and Dysart-Middlemount Road.
Ms Vea Vea said $103.5m a year for five years was “less than one per cent of the $270bn contribution to fix critical roads for our communities and industries”.
During the 2024 local government election Isaac council candidates were almost unanimous in naming roads a priority for their term.
“Our coal has supported the nation for decades and now it is time we saw a return of that support in the form of road investment,” Ms Vea Vea said.
When contacted by this publication, sitting Capricornia federal MP Michelle Landry was unable to commit to Ms Vea Vea’s request, instead pointing to the Coalition’s $20bn Regional Australia Future Fund, which she said Capricornia would gain from.
“A re-elected Coalition Government is the only solution to fix our roads and uplift regional communities across Australia,” Ms Landry said.
Ms Landry said Coalition policies were designed to “future-proof” Australia.
Labor candidate for Capricornia Emily Mawson was contacted for comment and did not respond by deadline.
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