Land resumptions before Coomera Connector route finalised

The first land resumptions on the northern section of the contentious second M1 have been finalised as the state’s peak motoring body called for the highway’s construction to be fast-tracked.

The Coomera Connector from Eagleby to Loganholme (Stage 2)

THE first lot of land resumptions on the northern section of the contentious second M1 have been finalised as the state’s peak motoring body called for the road’s construction to be fast-tracked.

COOMERA CONNECTOR ALTERNATIVE ROUTE

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Landowners, who sold up to make way for the six-lane highway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, have moved out in the past three months.

Initial reports said 15 properties in Eagleby would be resumed to make way for the road, which will link the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

It is unknown how many properties have already been resumed.

But any land resumptions proceeded despite the highway’s route being under review.

The government promised to investigate alternative paths in October, seven months after officially approving a route through Eagleby.

The Fryar Rd property at Eagleby which the state government has bought to make way for the proposed Coomera Connector.

Former Eagleby resident Dave Downie said his Fryar Rd property, bought by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, was being rented as State Housing.

He said if the current approved plans for the Coomera Connector proceeded, the property would be bulldozed to make way for the highway’s on-ramp.

Dave Downie has sold up and moved out of Eagleby.

“Without that on-ramp, the traffic through Eagleby will be negligible,” he said.

“There is no way to get on or off the freeway in Eagleby, which is what I think will eventuate — the sensible solution.”

Mr Downie, who has moved north out of the area, said any upgrade between the Gold Coast and Brisbane was needed sooner rather than later.

Logan City Council workers build kerbing on Fryar Road at Eagleby this week less than 100m from a property which was bought by the state government to make way for the Coomera Connector.

Mr Downie was speaking after the state’s peak motoring body called for the second M1 to be fast-tracked in a bid to kickstart the economy after the coronavirus.

RACQ head of public policy Rebecca Michael said the State Government was developing a business case for Stage 1 of the highway from the Gold Coast.

RACQ’s Rebecca Michael said the second stage of the Coomera Connector had not been decided. PHOTO: JUDITH KERR

But Ms Michael said despite the land resumptions in Eagleby, the Stage 2 northern section was not included in the business case because the route was not finalised.

“There will be an analysis of options for the Stage 2 alignment based on traffic, freight, community and environmental considerations,” she said.

“We can’t speculate on exactly where the alignment is, but we would want the route to provide effective and efficient connections for freight and local trips.”

The road is one of dozens the motoring body listed as priorities when it presented federal, state and local governments with a list of shovel-ready and yet-to-be-planned road upgrades it said would create jobs and stimulate business.

Eagleby residents welcomed the RACQ business proposal and said it was heartening the peak body recognised the route was still under review.

Eagleby Community and Wetlands Group chairman Marilyn Goodwin said the RACQ could save money and improve its capital works plan with an alternative route residents had drawn up.

Eagleby resident Robert Livingstone presents an alternative route to Transport Department officials.

She said the alternative would enhance economic benefits for the state as the current proposal included 7km of unnecessary road and two unneeded bridges.

“Everyone knows that building roads and capital works programs are great ways to get an economy moving,” she said.

“But the state government’s current proposal is 10.1km long and includes three bridges while our alternative is less than 3.7km with only one bridge.

“Our alternative plan and four other designs are being investigated by the Transport department.

“The state will be wasting money if it goes with the current route.”