Calls for Coomera Connector northern section to be revealed
Residents of a small community in the path of a proposed second M1 have called for details about the road’s northern section after a massive funding announcement was made yesterday.
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Residents of a small community in the path of a proposed second M1 have called for details about the road’s northern section after a massive funding announcement was made yesterday.
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The state government yesterday allocated $755 million to build the first stage of the road, a 16km section of the Coomera Connector between Nerang and Coomera.
The state funding will pay for half of stage one, with the other half expected to be covered by the federal government.
The second stage, which will clip through a part of Eagleby and come on to the M1 at Loganholme, was approved in March when the government published maps of the route.
The funding allocation prompted Eagleby residents to question why the second stage of the route had not been finalised and transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track to slam the road saying public transport was the way forward.
Eagleby Community and Wetlands Group spokesperson Marilyn Goodwin said yesterday’s funding announcement would have been perfect timing to also reveal findings from a review into the route for the northern section.
Ms Goodwin said the federal Environment Department had put environmental controls over the first stage to protect Ramsar-listed wetlands, migratory birds and threatened species.
She said residents wanted to know the outcome of environmental students for the second stage and which way the route would go before being asked to vote in next month’s election.
“Our Group has been asking the government for copies of environmental impact studies and hydrology reports so far undertaken but to no avail,” she said.
“Residents are in limbo until the assessment work is done and further consultations take place.
“We have seen how slowly this happens and it is not fair.
“We believe the road should come off the map until there is a clear path ahead.
“Degazetting is as simple as a pen stroke for Minister Mark Bailey but are the delays in the electorate of Macalister because this road is unpopular and may cause a problem for the sitting Member?”
In October, first-term MP Melissa McMahon took a bold move and called on her Transport and Main Roads Minister to “rethink” the second stage of the controversial highway through Eagleby.
She asked Transport Minister Mark Bailey to consider alternative routes including one proposed by the Eagleby residents which would save their community and only involve one bridge not three.
Yesterday, Mr Bailey said the project, when completed, would take up to 60,000 vehicles off the M1 at its busiest section around the Coomera River every day.
He said the package would include funding to upgrade Exit 45 at Ormeau, the Coomera park ‘n’ ride and the Currumbin Creek Rd intersection.
Transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the funding was out of touch with modern transport planning.
“Research since the 1970s has shown that widening freeways only increases congestion and forces more and more people to drive,” Mr Dow said.
“Every trip by car that should be by active or public transport, costs a minimum of six times more in taxpayer subsidies and it is simply unaffordable in our COVID-19 world.
“We want the Premier to listen to the science on transport planning like she is on COVID-19 and review the transport investment in more freeways and road widenings with a view to redirect the spending towards active and public transport.”