Townsville City Council votes to seek funding to connect Svensson Rd to North Shore Boulevard, Bruce Highway
Some Townsville residents could soon have better access to the Bruce Highway, with council approving a road expansion project application. See where. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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Northern Beaches residents could soon have better access to the Bruce Highway, with council approving a road expansion project application.
The project will be submitted in round one of the state government’s $2bn Residential Activation Fund, aiming to support investment in enabling infrastructure, such as roads.
Townsville City Council voted to support the application on Wednesday, with the project poised to reduce pressure on major arterial roads in the northern suburbs.
At least 50 per cent of cash in the Residential Activation Fund must be spent outside of South East Queensland, leaving Townsville in a prime position to secure some of the $500m kitty.
If approved by the state government, the proposal would see the development of Svensson Road, connecting to the Bruce Highway and a westerly extension of Boulevard.
The area is currently one of the busiest sections of the Bruce Highway in Townsville.
The council revealed in April that it would be applying for cash from the fund, with a spokesman saying it the application would be used to pay for “necessary enabling infrastructure to service new housing development.”
The council said it would work with developers to “identify the best opportunities to invest in infrastructure that will enable a further acceleration in new housing development in Townsville”.
Councillor Brodie Phillips said if approved, the expansion would allow the development of significant housing.
“There’s been over 100 applications for this round of funding,” he said.
“We’re going to unlock thousands of [housing] lots out there if we’re successful with this grant application.”
Councillor Liam Mooney said it’s great to see work being done to develop Townsville’s housing capabilities.
“Housing infrastructure is something we need in North Queensland, in Townsville, and we’ve been working so hard to try to get our outcomes through,” he said.
Northern Beaches access has been an ongoing issue with multiple projects earmarked to improve accessibility.
Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto is pushing for the state government to commit to a $20m business case to improve Woolcock St between Veales Rd and Ingham Rd.
The section of road is extremely congested daily and adds significant time to the commute into the city from the beaches.
The Bushland Beach community has also pushed for Lionel Turner Drive to be connected to North Shore Boulevard, giving the residents a second route out of the suburb.
Currently, Mount Low Parkway is the only road in and out of Bushland Beach and when closed, can block the entire community in.
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Originally published as Townsville City Council votes to seek funding to connect Svensson Rd to North Shore Boulevard, Bruce Highway
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