Residents continue calls for intersection upgrade as schoolchildren at risk daily

Parents are fearing the worst after near-misses involving school children at a notorious Bargara intersection, while it remains unclear when upgrades will come.

A war of words has erupted between Burnett MP Stephen Bennett and Transport Minister Mark Bailey regarding the beleaguered Bargara - Hughes Rd intersection.

A war of words has erupted between Burnett MP Stephen Bennett and Transport Minister Mark Bailey regarding the beleaguered Bargara – Hughes Rd intersection.

On Tuesday Mr Bennett released a statement accusing Mr Bailey of being “asleep at the wheel” in “ignoring the Bargara community’s urgent pleas” to upgrade the intersection.

Mr Bennett said Mr Bailey was “asleep at the wheel” in “ignoring the Bargara community’s urgent pleas” to upgrade the intersection.

“Every few weeks I’m contacted by motorists who witness near misses or crashes at this intersection,” Mr Bennett said.

“Every few weeks I write to the Minister for Transport or his department to plead for an upgrade.

“The response is always the same; there’s no money and no plans.”

In response, Mr Bailey said Mr Bennett’s statement was a “political stunt”.

Bundaberg fans get first crack at Bulldogs v Dolphins’ tickets

Mr Bailey said the department was “investigating further improvements” to the intersection.

“A competent local member can request briefings from TMR,” Mr Bailey quipped.

“I would encourage the Member for Burnett to request a meeting with TMR, it might save him issuing another embarrassing and false press release.”

Mr Bailey said Mr Bennett’s statement was a “political stunt” and the Department of Transport and Main Roads is “investigating further improvements” for the intersection.

The political jousting occurs against the background of numerous public calls to upgrade the intersection.

A petition with 438 signatures stating that the intersection was a “pedestrian hazard especially for schoolchildren” was tabled in Queensland parliament in February 2020.

Another petition with 1200 signatures was handed to Mr Bennett by residents in March 2021.

A petition with 1200 signatures was given directly to Mr Bennett by residents in March 2021.

Resident Sam Dziril regularly sees schoolchildren “run the gauntlet” at the intersection.

“They’re trying to get across the road, or try to get close to the road and then cars stop for them, which can be even more dangerous because … cars can hit them from behind,” Mr Dziril said.

Mr Dziril, 48, has two daughters aged eight and 10 who attend the nearby Bargara State School. He meets them at the intersection every second Friday to supervise when they cross the road.

Local resident Sam Dziril regularly sees moments when schoolchildren “run the gauntlet” at the intersection.

‘Difference between life and death’: Vital service’s $3m boost

“It’s not safe, even for myself, at three o’clock in the afternoon,” he said.

“There’s a lot of traffic in the morning, but it’s not too bad as the traffic is broken up (because) people arrive at the school at different times.”

Mr Dziril would like to see a wider traffic island installed to allow pedestrians to cross one half of the road at a time, similar to Quay St in front of the courthouse.

Mr Dziril would like to see a wider traffic island installed to allow pedestrians to cross one half of the road at a time.

Councillor Greg Barnes said questions about when the intersection will be upgraded is “probably one of the most asked questions” he receives from Bargara residents.

“I keep talking to (TMR) about it and they’ve said they’ve got no plans for it,” Mr Barnes said.

“I’ve got to keep passing it off to the state, not because I try and avoid the question, but because it’s literally their project.”