Coomera Connector protesters target Environment Minister

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon has justified building a second M1 through koala habitat, after a group of residents launched a protest outside her Gold Coast office.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon has backed the proposed Coomera Connector despite a protest outside her Gold Coast office.

Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon has justified building a second M1 through koala habitat, after a group of residents launched a protest outside her Gold Coast office.

Ms Scanlon said there had been overwhelming support for the six-lane Coomera Connector from the Gold Coast to Brisbane, despite environmentalists’ claims it would plough through 98 hectares of koala habitat and the significant Eagleby Wetlands.

She said independent experts had identified the route with the least impact on properties and the environment and said the highway’s northern section would not affect RAMSAR wetlands north of the Logan River.

Protesters outside the Minister’s office.

“Thousands of families are moving to the coast, and my community has overwhelmingly told me they want to see the Coomera Connector built,” she said.

“That’s why we’ve secured funding to build the first section between Nerang and Coomera later this year.

“I’ve made sure The Transport Department works closely with world-renowned koala experts such as Dr John Hangar to maintain as much koala habitat as possible, provide local offsets and build new fauna crossings.

“As Environment Minister, I’m keen to make sure these projects build on the strongest koala protections in Queensland’s history, including the protection of more than 700,000 hectares of koala habitat.”

Protest organiser Tom Andraszek said time was running out to stop the $1.53 billion road being built, with construction of the first stage due to start within months.

A protester outside Meaghan Scanlon’s office.

Mr Andraszek said the destruction of the koala habitat was a main concern and urged the state government to consider spending the billions of dollars on a state-of-the-art public transport network.

“Paving paradise to build motorways and parking lots is the worst choice we could make,” he said.

“The amount of money proposed to be spent on this project would be enough to supply 20 years of free public transport.

“The Second M1 will greatly increase traffic congestion on local arterial roads and is only designed to carry 120,000 cars a day.

“Even if the Coomera Connector is not congested, when the traffic tries to merge back on to the M1, there will be major traffic jams.

“The cities of the future will not include car-dependent suburban developments, which only serve to reduce koala habitat and in the long-term just cause more pollution.”

Mr Andraszek also called for findings from state investigations into public transport alternatives to be revealed.

State Transport Minister Mark Bailey said this week he would not be concerned if the federal government conducted an environmental impact assessment of the road through the Eagleby Wetlands.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon say the approved Coomera Connector must proceed.

Mr Bailey said the approved route was the best environmentally and in terms of cost.