Former opposition leader and Nanango MP Deb Frecklington has accused the state government of neglecting regional roads

Local member Deb Frecklington has accused the state government of neglecting regional roads in the state budget, claiming just one problem section had been given funding.

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington has attacked the state government’s budget, accusing it of neglecting regional areas.

Mrs Frecklington said the 2021/22 State Budget “continues the Labor Government’s chronic neglect” of regional road upgrades and maintenance.

The former opposition leader and shadow minister for regional development and Manufacturing said Labor was losing control of services, including the ability to provide a safe regional road network.

“This year I have asked the Labor Government about key regional roads and when they intend to provide funding to make them safe,” Mrs Frecklington said.

“The response is always the same – there is no funding for our regional roads.

“Statewide we know that the backlog on state-controlled roads has blown out from $4 billion to $6 billion.”

Kilkivan-Tansey Road in the South Burnett.

Mrs Frecklington said the Auditor-General had told the government three years ago that there were serious problems with Queensland’s roads, but she said the government “did nothing”.

“The Auditor-General also forecast that our maintenance backlog would grown to $9 billion this decade, but at the current rate we’re going, it will be well over $10 billion,” she said.

“Couple this with an overall slash in Queensland’s entire infrastructure spending of $4 billion dollars over the forward estimates and we have minimal new money being invested in Queensland, with most projects just being re-announced.

Mrs Frecklington said that over the past six months, she has asked Questions on Notice to the Minister for Main Roads about three state-controlled roads which are constantly overlooked.

“I have specifically asked about Kilkivan-Tansey Road, Memerambi Gordonbrook Road and Running Creek Bridge on Brooweena-Woolooga Road, but the answers gave no hope that the roads would be fixed,” she said.

“I am also very disappointed that Tanduringie Creek Bridge has not been listed for upgrade. This is a serious safety issue which has been completely overlooked.

“We have had one small win, with funding announced to seal a section of the Bunya Mountains-Maidenwell Road. However, we won’t see any works however until 2024/25.”

The South Burnett Times can confirm health, education, mining and infrastructure projects were high on the budget agenda with one local project taking the lion’s share of funding revealed in this year’s budget release.

Around $50.1m will go to Meandu Mine for its development, mine fleet and other much needed works. This money will help fund the replacement and refurbishment of handling equipment and infrastructure.

The Tarong Power Station overhauls and sustaining project scored $31.9m to pay for replacement and refurbishment of existing infrastructure.

This should go a long way towards ensuring the continued reliability of electricity supply to Queensland.

Kingaroy Hospital has $8.4 million to put towards its $92.5m redevelopment that will lead to more patient treatment spaces and improved hub services, including trauma and paediatrics.

Meanwhile, the region’s Dusty Hill has had $1.8m allocated next financial year for its $4.5m expansion project.