State Government has to chip in before Deception Bay overpass upgrade goes ahead
THE Federal Government allocated $120 million in its budget to upgrade a busy overpass north of Brisbane but it says it needs the State Government to chip in.
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THE Federal Government allocated $120 million in its recent budget to upgrade a vital piece of road infrastructure north of Brisbane, but it will not go ahead unless the State Government is willing to chip in.
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison visited Deception Bay, with Federal LNP MP for Petrie Luke Howarth, on Thursday to discuss the upgrade of the Deception Bay Rd overpass.
The overpass links Deception Bay to Burpengary.
“Funding for major roads is a shared responsibility and as per our existing agreement with the State Government is based on a set minimum 80/20 split on Bruce Highway works, whereby they are required to contribute a minimum 20 per cent,” Mr Howarth said.
“To be perfectly honest, our contribution should well and truly cover the full cost, leaving them a little in the kitty that, in the interests of local residents, they should then tip in to upgrading Deception Bay Rd — a state road.”
State Labor MP for Murrumba Chris Whiting said this was not the first time an LNP Government had promised to complete this project.
Mr Whiting said a $124 million project to widen Deception Bay Rd and upgrade the overpass had been approved under the previous Newman State Government.
He said it was “hypocritical” for the Federal Government to now turn and ask Labor to help to fund the project.
“The Palaszczuk Government wrote to the Federal Government in January advising them that this project is a planning priority for us,” Mr Whiting said.
He said he was yet to receive a letter or request from the Federal Government asking the state to support the project.
The upgrade, if funded, would be a six-lane overpass.
Mr Howarth said it would be very similar to the Boundary Rd overpass upgrade, which is just a few kilometres down the Bruce Highway.
Like the Boundary Rd upgrade, the existing overpass would be knocked down and a new one built.
He said he was not able to provide a time frame of the upgrade but said he would like to see it completed by the middle of 2019.
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