Bowen Basin crash sparks call for fatals to be treated as mine deaths

Millions earmarked for crucial upgrades on a horror stretch of Queensland road where miners are being killed sit in limbo as another family mourns the loss of a husband and father.

The death of a beloved husband and father on a major mining road has sparked calls for the tragedy to be counted as a mining death, as millions earmarked for crucial upgrades to that horror stretch sit in limbo.

On Father’s Day, September 3, Chris Goodwin, 45, died when the 4WD he was driving collided with a coal truck and trailer on Saraji Rd, not far from the Phillips Creek Bridge, catastrophically crushing the smaller vehicle about 4.30am.

Seven days earlier, on August 27, father of three James Rolph, 46, also died in a collision with a road train on Moranbah Access Rd about 9.40am.

And on August 29 two mine workers were killed in a horror head-on crash on the Capricorn Highway near Duaringa, west of Rockhampton.

Acting Mining and Energy Union Queensland President Mitch Hughes said road fatalities like these needed to be recorded as mining deaths, as he called for urgent action to improve roads, and manage road use in the wake of the tragedies.

Chris Goodwin tragically died with the ute he was driving and a road train collided on Saraji Rd on Father's Day.

The mining watchdog says it is liaising with police as the forensic crash unit investigates the cause of the two fatalities involving mine workers.

A Resources Safety and Health Queensland spokeswoman said early investigations by RSHQ found no link between the tragedies and mining operations.

“If the QPS determine that factors arising from mining operations were involved, then RSHQ will further investigate,” she said.

“Road deaths involving mine workers have the capacity to be counted as mine incidents if they were the direct result of mining operations.

“All Queensland mine sites should have fatigue management and traffic safety policies in place.”

A horror crash on Saraji Rd on Father's day, September 3, claimed the life of beloved husband and father Chris Goodwin.

BOWEN BASIN FACING UNIQUE PRESSURES

Mr Hughes said Bowen Basin roads faced unique pressures including large volumes of traffic from mines including use by mining companies to haul coal.

“We have massive vehicles using the public roads in the Bowen Basin coalfields. This includes coal companies using our roads to haul coal,” he said.

There has been an $18m commitment to replace the Phillips Creek Bridge on Saraji Road.

“The vehicles themselves are a hazard due to their size and they tear up the roads making them more dangerous for everyone else.

Added to this, he said, there were high volumes of shift workers travelling on the roads day and night, as well as the general community.

“The situation becomes very dangerous,” Mr Hughes said.

“The roads around Moranbah and Dysart are in a disgraceful condition and we need more investment to improve them.

The notorious stretch has been the scene of multiple crashes.

“With the amount of money the Bowen Basin generates for Queensland, the roads should be paved with gold; instead they are potholed and dangerous.”

NOTORIOUS STRETCH SCENE OF TOO MANY CRASHES

Phillips Creek Bridge on Saraji Rd has been the subject of a huge funding push to replace one of the key road links within the Bowen Basin.

And as of late last year both Federal and State Governments had committed the necessary $18m towards upgrading the major mining thoroughfare linking Dysart and Moranbah.

The notorious stretch has been the scene of multiple crashes and it is estimated the closure of the bridge can cost the mining industry $12m a day.

Photos show the shocking aftermath of a serious crash involving two utes and a tanker on Saraji Rd near Phillips Creek bridge on July 4. Picture: Supplied

Despite the money being locked in for more than eight months there is no state date for the project, which will be delivered by Isaac Regional Council.

Capricornia MP Michelle Landry said that funding was “on the chopping block” under Infrastructure Minister Catherine King’s 90 Day Infrastructure Pipeline Review.

“As part of the Infrastructure Investment Program Review, there was the opportunity for submissions to the panel,” Ms Landry said.

“I made a submission to this review on July 10 where I reiterated the urgent need for upgrades to be made. Isaac Regional Council also made a submission to the IIPR.”

Ms Landry said the review ended weeks ago “and we are still to hear the outcome”.

“The funding was ready and waiting to be distributed and yet, the Minister and her Government were willing to hit pause and risk the lives of motorists so they could see which projects they could divert funding away from and into the capital cities,” she said.

This publication contacted Ms King and Isaac Regional Council for comment but neither responded by the deadline.