Fraser Council calls for Bauple consultation on Tiaro Bypass

Bauple residents have an ally in Fraser Coast Council after a down to the wire vote on the Tiaro bypass consultation, while the state has responded to flood fears.

Mayor George Seymour has cast a deciding vote to support Bauple residents' calls for more consultation on the Tiaro Bypass in a move welcomed by the town’s residents. TMR has continued to defned its process on the project.

Bauple residents frustrated by what they say is a lack of consultation on the Tiaro Bypass have welcomed a narrow Fraser Coast Council decision to write to the state supporting their calls.

Councillors agreed to write to the state Transport Department and Minister Mark Bailey in a tightly contested decision decided by a single vote, while the department has again defended its process.

The motion put forward by Denis Chapman called on the council to note the Bauple residents’ concerns and “encourage” consultation between them and Transport and Main Roads.

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Mr Chapman, Mayor George Seymour, James Hansen, Phil Truscott, and David Lee backed the motion.

Deputy Mayor Paul Truscott, Jade Wellings, Darren Everard, David Lewis and Zane O’Keefe rejected it.

Mr Seymour, as chairman of the meeting, split the tie with a casting vote.

Bauple Progress Association, with members Marianne Pink, Dani-Lee Kershaw, Lynne Stratford and Ron Stratford pictured here, welcomed the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s decision to write to the state government about their concerns.

Mr Lee said he continued hearing feedback “the Bauple community hasn’t been adequately consulted”.

The Bauple community had some safety risk concerns about the bypass, he said, including flood inundation and emergency services access.

“There are a number of small communities that are affected by this project,” Mr Lee said.

“I understand there was a material change made to the Tiaro bypass … it now directly affects the Bauple community and therefore, it’s vitally important that Bauple is consulted.”

When asked if TMR and the state government had dropped the ball on the consultation process for the project, Mr Lee said it was a good example of the department not adequately consulting with the community.

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Members of the Bauple Progress Association welcomed the council’s decision.

A Transport and Main Roads spokesman defended the department’s consultation, saying Bauple had been given the same level of engagement as Tiaro.

“We support the need for a Tiaro Bypass, but the draft plan for a Bauple service road through a swamp presents major safety concerns for our community,” member Marianne Pink said via a statement.

“Therefore, Bauple is requesting a review of the decision for the current design proposal and that proper consultation be undertaken with the residents and businesses of the town.”

TMR defended its consultation process.

“We have undertaken extensive consultation with Tiaro and surrounding communities, including Bauple, for the Tiaro bypass project since 2019,” a TMR spokesman said.

“The Bauple community has received the same level of consultation about the bypass as Tiaro, the town most impacted.

“This has included a project working group with two Bauple community members, project updates and flyers, a public meeting, meetings with community representatives and public displays in Tiaro on 22, 23 and 24 July 2022.”

The service road included in the design was added to improve safety and was “dependent on funding”, he said.

“Bauple community members and representatives have proposed alternatives involving interchanges, overpasses, and other new connections at, or near, the existing Bauple Drive (north) Bruce Highway connection,” the spokesman said.

“An interchange at Bauple Drive (north), as requested, is not feasible or affordable.

“It would increase the total project cost by up to a third and carry additional land and environmental impacts.

“The proposed service road would be built to withstand a one-in-20-year flood event.

“The Bauple community could still use Bauple Drive (south) to access the Bruce Highway should flooding occur.”