Bruce Highway Advisory Council holds first meeting in Townsville

A new advisory board held its first meeting on Wednesday in Townsville, with the aim of sharing regional voices to better the state of the tumultuous Bruce Highway. See who’s on the board.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg speaking on Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

A new advisory board held its first meeting on Wednesday in Townsville, with the aim of amplifying regional voices to better the state of the tumultuous Bruce Highway.

The Bruce Highway Advisory Council consists of stakeholders from Queensland’s transport and industry bodies, senior government officials, local MPs and everyday Queenslanders with personal experiences who use the highway regularly, with the goal of fixing it.

RACQ said in a statement on Wednesday that between 2019 and 2023, an average of 32 people were killed in crashes on the Bruce Highway each year, stating that for this year that number had already been surpassed in November.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg speaking on Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

For Elle Butler a horrific non-fatal accident on the Bruce Highway involving her mother four years ago led to her joining the council with the hope of making sure no other families have to go through what she went through.

“Fortunately she is doing well, but it did take its toll on her health and we have ongoing health issues,” Ms Butler said.

“I come from just outside of Rockhampton, and I travel the Rockhampton/Mackay stretch every month in order to help her with her medical needs.

“I know how blessed we are to have families and not everyone is as lucky as I am, but it certainly prompted my passion for road safety on the Bruce Highway. Being on the Bruce Highway Advisory Council is such a privilege for me.”

Fellow member of the advisory board Kent Battle from Nortrans, a heavy freight supplier, said his family employs a large number of Queenslanders that travel up and down the Bruce Highway everyday and has heard issues with the conditions of the road are causing drivers to change their routes.

The first Bruce Advisory Council meeting was held in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

“I’ve actually got drivers going the back way, avoiding the Bruce Highway which is a more expensive, longer, more time-consuming way to do just to avoid the Bruce Highway with the amount of accidents that have happened recently,” he said.

With vast experience in heavy transportation Mr Battle said previously the North hasn’t received its fair share of road improvements and upgrades.

“I would like to see some more infrastructure and some more spending in the North,” he said.

“When I saw the opportunity to get on [the board] I jumped straight at it,” he said.

“I’d like to see a safer, more efficient, more reliable Bruce Highway with a lot more features that help everyday people to get home. I never want to make a phone call to a family member of someone that works with us.”

Mr Battle said for those who have been driving the roads for many years, it is the same areas and same issues they are saying time and time again which he now wants to bring to the table.

The first Bruce Advisory Council meeting was held in Townsville on Wednesday. Picture by Nikita McGuire

“It’s the same issues which cause frustration, which causes impatience, which causes people to potentially take risks that they shouldn’t,” he said.

Kicking off the first meeting of the Bruce Highway Advisory Council, Minister for Transport and Main Roads Brent Mickelberg said the government’s aim is to listen to regional voices and ensure investments are given where needed.

Mr Mickelberg said the meetings, which will occur regularly, will be used to form investment in policies.

“This is a promise we made through the last election, that we simply establish and meet before Christmas. Here we are honouring that commitment, and our commitment to the Bruce Highway Advisory Council is all about listening to regional voices,” he said.

With a representative from each region the Bruce Highway passes through, Mr Mickelberg said the road was the ‘spine of Queensland’ and that it was tragic to see so many lose their lives on the stretch of road.

“Unfortunately, far too many lives are lost on the Bruce Highway. Right now our government is committed to addressing that,” he said.

“We need to ensure that investment in the Bruce Highway keeps pace with demand.”

“We will fight for 80/20 funding from the Federal government. The Premier has made it very, very clear that we’re to ensure that the Federal government steps up to the plate and funds the Bruce Highway as well.”

Originally published as Bruce Highway Advisory Council holds first meeting in Townsville