Warrego region’s roads: Ann Leahy lashes Department of Transport for lack of maintenance on southwest Queensland roads

‘You wonder why people die’: Ann Leahy said she receives regular messages about the deterioration of our traffic network, saying there are bike paths in Brisbane wider than southwest roads.

BAD CONDITION: Member for Warrego Ann Leahy has lashed the State Government for their poor commitment to regional roads. Picture: Contributed

Member for Warrego Ann Leahy said she fields complaints from her constituents on a weekly basis about the region’s traffic network, saying there were bike paths in Brisbane wider than southwest roads.

The electorate received an unwanted accolade this month, after it ranked in the top 10 most dangerous region’s for road traffic deaths in Queensland for 2021.

Many have landed the blame at driver inattention and intoxication, however the region’s state politician said it could be attributed to the dire state of our roads.

Member for Warrego Ann Leahy said

Ms Leahy said she receives calls weekly from angry residents about the lack of maintenance the traffic network receives, which included a notorious stretch of road southwest of Miles.

“I’ve received photos this month of the Condamine Highway west of Condamine from residents, and we have a huge feedlot industry out that way,” Ms Leahy said.

“We’ve got cattle going in, grain and cattle going out, and there’s trucks going along there all the time, heavy vehicles.

“Some of these pictures just show that there are bike tracks in Brisbane that are wider than our roads taking B-doubles.”

A concerned resident took these photos of the Condamine Highway. Picture: Contributed

After writing to Transport and Main Roads about the condition of the highway, she received a curt response.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads is aware of the condition of the road,” their response said.

“Due to funding constraints and higher competing priorities, there are no current plans for major rehabilitation of this stretch of road.”

Ms Leahy said this was unacceptable.

“You wonder why people die, if you don’t do this type of maintenance on our roads, you will compromise safety,” she said.

Ms Leahy said this was highlighted by the Auditor-General’s report to parliament on integrated transport planning in 2017, which revealed a $4 billion backlog of road maintenance.

“The backlog figure identified has now grown from $4 billion to $5.418 billion as at June 30 2019,” Ms Leahy said.

The deteriorating state of the Condamine Highway, west of Condamine. Picture: Contributed

“In south west Queensland alone, this figure is a staggering $894 million.

“This maintenance backlog and underspending has serious implications for road safety and productivity.”

Ms Leahy said a dual carriageway road similar to the Warrego Highway from Charleville to Brisbane could be built from this tremendous backlog of maintenance.

“That is the amount of bitumen not being placed on the south west roads, because of the inaction of the Palaszczuk Labor Government,” she said.

“To put it in perspective, about 30 per cent of the road length in Queensland receives about seven per cent of the funding.”