Mercer Springate Road a top priority for upgrade

A rural South Burnett road has been highlighted by residents on social media as a top priority for upgrade. Read what they said and have your say in our poll:

Mercer Springate Road has been highlighted as one of the Nanango community’s top priorities to receive a much-needed upgrade. Source: Celeste Muller

Mercer Springate Road has been highlighted as one of the Nanango community’s top priorities to receive a much-needed upgrade.

The Country Roads Connect program has reached out to local councils around the state to ask them to submit projects that could improve the safety of regional roads by paving roads which become impassable or dangerous during significant weather events.

The project focuses on road sealing and paving specifically, rather than major upgrades or structures.

The program is part of a $100 million election commitment from the state government to “improve road access for Queensland communities at times when they need it most”.

Mercer Springate Road, East Nanango. Source: Celeste Muller

South Burnett Regional councillor Jane Erkens posted the announcement on social media and asked residents which roads they believed would benefit most from being paved and sealed.

The most common response was Mercer Springate Road in East Nanango.

Commenters on social media said the road condition was shocking and could be very slippery when driving with a loaded trailer.

“I just think some bitumen on that intersection would make things a lot safer, so many people cut the corner coming onto Rifle Range Road,” one person posted.

“My daughter wrote off her car there (in) Feb last year.

“Reported many times.

“They finally ‘fixed it’ if that’s what u call loose gravel on the surface that u now slide into oncoming traffic,” another commenter said.

Other roads mentioned were Mount Stanley Road, Scott Lane in Runnymede, Enid Court in Blackbutt, Brights Road up to North Kerton Road in East Nanango and the corner of Appin Street and Cairns Street near the showgrounds.

One commenter said sealing the remainder of Hamilton Road in South East Nanango should be a priority because of the dangerous driving conditions that occur when it rains.

“Whenever it rains, the runoff causes dangerous sections of washouts on the road,” the commenter said.

“The school bus travels this road twice a weekday, and it can get very dangerous for not only a standard car, but these large vehicles as well.”

Councils must submit their nominations by March 31, 2025.

VOTE IN OUR POLL: