Bruce Highway crash deaths: Michelle Landry calls for funding to fix Capricornia stretch
An outspoken Queensland MP has blasted the lack of money earmarked for “some of the most dangerous stretches” of the Bruce Highway, while another called funding delays ‘despicable’. DETAILS
Mackay
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An outspoken Central Queensland MP has blasted the lack of funding earmarked for “some of the most dangerous stretches” of the Bruce Highway.
Concerning data from Department of Transport and Main Roads reveals nine of the top 15 ranks most dangerous sections of the state highway were within the Capricornia and Mackay districts.
This comes after three women were killed following a deadly collision between Greyhound bus and 4WD towing a caravan on the highway in the Whitsunday region.
Capricornia MP Michelle Landry has slammed Labor’s decision to slash funding from the Bruce Highway in her electorate saying it would ultimately lead to more lives lost.
“In my electorate of Capricornia, of the top 15 most deadly areas of the Bruce Highway as reported by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, four are located in our region,” Ms Landry said.
“Despite this, in State Labor’s most recent Budget, not a single cent will go to upgrading some of the most dangerous stretches of road between Rockhampton and Sarina.”
Federal MP for Dawson Andrew Willcox said Labor’s decision to slash funding in his electorate was ‘despicable’.
“While the investigation into the cause of this accident is still ongoing, any life lost on the Bruce Highway is one life too many, and we desperately need investment into this road to ensure there are no more victims of the Bruce,” he said
“The stretch of highway that runs through my electorate, from Mackay all the way up to Townsville has the worst safety rating out of the entire Bruce.
“While Labor is busy investing millions of dollars in the southeast corner to secure votes, innocent lives are being lost, and frankly, it’s disgusting.
“This isn’t about politics or political agendas; this is about the safety of my people and the safety of the people travelling through our region.”
TMR data of the 15 deadliest lengths of road between 2015 to 2024 places Koumala in second place, Marlborough 11th, Carmila 12th and St Lawrence at 13th.
While research from the Australian Road Assessment Program showed almost 50 per cent of the Bruce Highway only ranked two stars out of five while no electorate in the southeast of Queensland had sections rated below three stars.
Ms Landry has called on Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King to answer why hundreds of millions of dollars was being pumped into roads with three plus stars, “while regional Queenslanders are taking their lives in their hands driving on sections of road that are some of the worst in Australia”.
“Over the weekend, another horrific accident occurred on the Bruce Highway,” Ms Landry said.
“While Labor continues to cut funding out of the regions and change contribution from an 80:20 model to 50:50, they are playing with the lives of each and every traveller on the Bruce.”
TOP 15 DEADLIEST ROADS (2015 – 2024)
1. Kolong (Bundaberg)
2. Koumala (Mackay)
3. Bloomsbury (Mackay)
4. Guthalungra (Whitsunday)
5. Damper Creek (Cassowary Coast)
6. Mutarnee (Townsville)
7. Bluewater (Townsville)
8. Bajool (Rockhampton)
9. Kybong (Gympie)
10. Bowen (Whitsunday)
11. Marlborough (Livingstone)
12. Carmila (Isaac)
13. St Lawrence (Isaac)
14. Chatsworth (Gympie)
15. Hampden (Mackay)
Source: Department of Transport and Main Roads
An NRMA Insurance survey revealed 43 per cent felt the Bruce Highway was unsafe road to travel on, while 53 per cent of respondents had witnessed a crash on the state highway.
There have been more than 90 crashes claiming at least 108 lives on the Bruce Highway just in the Mackay District, which stretches from about St Lawrence to Bowen, between January 1, 2011 and April 12, 2024.
Thirteen lives have tragically been claimed on the Rockhampton stretch of the Bruce Highway in the past three years, including a young father of a one-year-old baby boy.
The Prime Minister has committed to upgrading the infamous Bruce Highway following launch of the Help Our Highway campaign.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish offered his condolences to the travellers and families impacted by the Greyhound bus crash at Gumlu.
“My heart goes out to the families and friends of loved ones who lost their lives and the whole community who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy,” Mr Mellish said.
“Investigations are still underway by QPS and we need to let them get on with their job.”
He said TMR and police investigated every single fatal crash and would take whatever action is necessary to prevent an accident occurring again.
“Making Queensland roads safer is our highest priority,” Mr Mellish said.
“It’s why we are so tough on behaviours that contribute to deaths on our roads, including speeding, mobile phone distraction, drink driving, fatigue and not wearing a seatbelt.
“And it’s why we will continue to invest in vital road safety upgrades and initiatives to get back on track to our vision of zero deaths on our roads.”
Under the 2024-25 state budget funding towards the Bruce Highway was increased to $250m per year from 2027-28 onwards. There is also a $13bn 10-year rolling work program that included flood resilience, widening, overtaking lanes, rest stop upgrades and safety barriers.
Ring Roads are also being built in Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville and a bypass in Gympie to remove heavy transport and traffic out of the suburban areas.
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