One-man protest for Murrumba ramps draws funding promise from ‘silent’ MP

An allegedly “stonewalled” resident hopes placard power and public support will lead to congestion-busting ramps in a fast developing area.

Paul Burns seeks answers on funding for ramps at Dohles Rocks Road. (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

A MURRRUMBA Downs resident wants infrastructure answers from his state Member of Parliament and has taken his message to the streets.

Paul Burns has led a one-man campaign calling for the Queensland Government to start work on ramps from the M1 to Dohles Rocks Rd but claims he is being stonewalled by Member for Murrumba, Steven Miles.

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“At our July 26 meeting Steven Miles promised a follow-up meeting to answer fresh questions I had and to share the map and plans for the proposal.

“It has now been four months, I have spoken to three of his staff members and have not had one bit of communication.

“It is as if they have closed shop.

“Our community deserves better than this; it is just common decency to respond.”

The Federal LNP Government on April 3, 2018 said it would fund 80 per cent of the estimated $150 million project to build northbound/southbound Bruce Highway access ramps at Dohles Rocks Rd.

The remaining 20 per cent needed funding by the State Labor Government, however, to date, it has not supported the project either in-principle or by pledging any money towards it.

Mr Miles, who has been adamant in his preference to fund an alternative route between Griffin and Mango Hill, has for the first time indicated he will consider both projects.

Paul Burns has been campaigning for off/on ramps from the M1 to Dohles Rocks Road. (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

“I’ve asked the Main Roads minister for the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) to look again and investigate a way that both upgrades could be built, including if it’s possible to build safe and effective ramps at Dohles Rocks Road,” Mr Miles said.

“My priority remains securing funding for the North South Urban Arterial which would connect Diamond Jubilee Rd through Mango Hill to Griffin and over a new bridge to the Gateway Arterial.

“The North South Urban Arterial would be a multi-lane road that would reduce travel times and provide residents of Griffin with access to North Lakes and the Anzac Ave northbound ramps.”

Mr Burns said public support for his roadside petitioning at Dohles Rocks Rd had been “brilliant”.

“At present we are travelling through suburban roads past two primary schools to get to Anzac Ave,” he said.

“So it is also a safety issue to redirect traffic away from the schools making the ramps an ideal solution.

“We want to get onto the Bruce Highway to travel north and the Diamond Jubilee option, though wonderful, does not solve our problem.”

The petitioner also refuted claims made by Mr Miles in July in regards to land resumption and project logistics.

“At our meeting in July TMR could share no reasons why the ramps could not be built,” Mr Burns said.

“TMR confirmed over the phone that the distance between the planned ramps would not be a problem.

“And TMR said the substantial resumption is actually because they are trying to double the lanes of the Bruce Highway and has nothing to do with the ramps.”