Coomera Connector funding shocker as pause button hit

The building of the $2.4 billion Coomera Connector has been cast into doubt after a shock decision by an influential infrastructure body.

THE $2.4 billion Coomera Connector is not on the Infrastructure Australia high priority list in a decision branded a “shocker” by Queensand Transport Minister Mark Bailey.

The independent advisory body, which reports to the Federal Government, has the Brisbane Metro and increasing the Pacific Motorway capacity from Eight Mile Plains to Tugun as high priority projects.

The Coomera Connector route.

WHAT RESIDENTS THINK OF COOMERA CONNECTOR

Those projects given the lower “priority” status include light rail State 3A from Broadbeach to Burleigh and the M1 Pacific Motorway upgrade from Varsity Lakes to Tugun, which have delivery timeframes of five years.

The Infrastructure Australia report released today refers generally to “Brisbane to Gold Coast transport corridor upgrades” as a priority initiative.

The Palaszczuk Government in November put the pedal down on the second M1 hoping design and funding for the Coomera Connector would be confirmed by 2022 with work starting the follow year.

Mr Bailey today told The Bulletin: “I was very disappointed to see Infrastructure Australia leave off their infrastructure priority list the second M1. What we are seeing is a huge amount of commitment there (with our government).

“The consultation in November saw thousands of people engage with us. People want to see it done. We need for the Federal Government to be committed to this.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon on a site tour of work on the M1 upgrade.

MORE NEWS

Green light for massive new tower development

Why M1 speeds will drop even further

Gold Coast’s most dangerous intersections revealed

“This is a shocker to be quite frank. They need to review this decision and put it on the Infrastructure Priority list.”

But Moncrieff MP Angie Bell said Mr Bailey was misleading Coast motorists.

“According to media reports the state Labor Transport Minister has once again lied to Gold Coasters. He said that the Federal Government is not prioritising the Coomera Connector,” Ms Bell said.

“We made a commitment in the last Budget of $10 million to undertake a business case — this comes on top of the $1.7 billion we have already committed to the M1.

“The facts are that Infrastructure Australia is an independent body that provides advice to government. It is not representative of the government. It is up to the State Government to make a credible and detailed submission to the priority list, and to meet the requisite conditions for a submission to be accepted on to the list.

Moncrieff MP Angie Bell. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“To be crystal clear, the ‘M1 Pacific Motorway Capacity’ remains a high priority initiative, which indicates that Infrastructure Australia views it as a key priority. The only thing State Labor can deliver consistently is untruths and political spin.”

The projects are listed after an infrastructure audit and independent assessment by the Infrastructure Australia Board.