Gympie Bypass on track despite MP concerns
Latest images of the final stretch of the Gympie Bypass have been released as Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Bridget Mckenzie expressed concerns over the project’s funding and timeline. See the photos:
Gympie
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gympie. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Images over the final section of the $1billion Gympie Bypass have been released showing progress of the Bruce Highway as it continues to near completion ahead of a 2024 opening.
The Gympie Bypass is about 75 per cent complete and its expected completion date has moved from mid-2024 to late-2024, both the federal and state transport ministers confirmed.
“Of course, we can’t control mother nature, especially an extended La Niña weather, and the Gympie region experienced four flooding and heavy rain events only last year – including flooding from ex-tropical cyclone Seth from 7-9 January 2022, South East Queensland Flooding February 2022, and further flooding in May 2022 and July 2022,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.
Teacher, pioneer, historian: Bev Betts remembered
Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien and Shadow Transport Minister Senator Bridget Mckenzie went to a vantage point overlooking Flood Rd on Wednesday morning to express their views over the completion date and funding.
They were concerned over the federal budget estimates projecting payout to the state up until the financial year of 2026-2027, which is two years after the expected completion of the project.
“The Federal Government’s October 2022-2023 budget delayed $50 million for the Gympie Bypass and has pushed out the completion date from mid-2024 to December 2024, making it clear to us that this vital project is not a priority for the government,” Mr O’Brien said.
State Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey’s office refuted these claims, pointing to budget documents showing that of the $1 billion for the project, more than $600 million had already been paid to the contractor with another $200 million to be paid from the next three months onwards.
As to the projected delay, this can be attributed to the weather events of last year.
“You can’t set concrete when the work site is flooded or covered with water from overnight rain, and so the delivery date of the Gympie Bypass has been pushed back a few months to late-2024 due to La Niña weather,” Mr Bailey said.
They confirmed that the project would continue under the same funding profile set out by the previous government, which Ms Mckenzie and Mr O’Brien were part of.
Keith Pitt made Ambassador to the Holy See in shock announcement
Outgoing Federal MP for Hinkler Keith Pitt announced he would exit politics late last year citing “frustration” and policy disagreements, and hinted at the time that an undisclosed new job opportunity was among the reasons for his decision. Now we know what that was.
‘Heard gunshots, then sirens’: Mystery deepens after property lockdown
Neighbours have described what they heard before police swarmed a rural Qld property and eerie recent history has emerged despite limited information coming from authorities. LATEST.