Coomera resident takes opposition Minister for transport for traffic congestion joy ride and hosts breakfast

THE State’s transport minister is refusing to have breakfast with a Gold Coast retiree to discuss how to ease traffic congestion in the City’s fastest-growing northern corridor.

THE State’s transport minister is refusing to have breakfast with a Gold Coast retiree to discuss how to ease traffic congestion in the city’s fastest-growing northern corridor.

Brisbane-based minister Mark Bailey again turned down Valerie Edwards’ offer yesterday for bacon and eggs at her Coomera home after she became fed up with taking 40 minutes to travel just over 4km.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington yesterday took up Ms Edwards’ offer for breakfast before driving around the suburb to experience the traffic with Coomera MP Michael Crandon.

Ms Frecklington implored Mr Bailey to take action immediately, instead of waiting for her to be potentially elected in 2020.

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Valerie Edwards looking at the plan for the potential second M1 highway with her realtor, Coomera Michael Crandon and Deb Frecklington. Photo: Ashleigh Weidmann

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“We have announced we will build a second M1 and we don’t want to wait,” she said. “We will continue to advocate.

“The Coomera/Pimpama area is the fastest-growing suburb in Queensland and the second fastest in Australia.

“It affects people on a daily basis and it never ceases to amaze me the arrogance of the Palaszczuk Government.

“LNP have agreed to funding the second M1 because we do believe this is one of the most congested areas in the south east.”

Mr Crandon said he had tried to speak to Mr Bailey a number of times in an effort to ease congestion.

Leader of the opposition Deb Frecklington, Valerie Edwards and Coomera MP Michael Crandon enjoying breakfast before hitting the peak morning traffic. Photo: Ashleigh Weidmann

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“The new M2 would take 60,000 vehicles off the M1 every day,” Mr Crandon said.

“We have all of the figures and plans already. Just for the duplication of Exit 41 and 49 it would be costing around $80 million each.

“For Exit 45, it looking to cost about $10 million a side for both an on or off ramp.”

Mr Bailey last week told the Bulletin “we’re upgrading exits 38, 41, 45 and 49, with a half a million dollars advancing the required planning for the Exit 45 at Ormeau Exit 49 at Pimpama.”

“We now see traffic queues backing up on the M1 at major exits because the previous LNP government’s cuts ignored the necessary planning and investment needed to manage the northern Gold Coast’s growth.

“These interchange upgrades are an important part of our fully funded M1 commitment to build at least six lanes wide from Brisbane to the New South Wales border.

Valerie Edwards discussing the construction and development at Coomera with Deb Frecklington. Photo: Emily Halloran

“Four fully funded M1 upgrades worth $2.3 billion have been announced under the Palaszczuk Government and work has started on two of those upgrades after no upgrades happened under the LNP.”

When asked yesterday if he would reconsider Ms Edwards’s offer for breakfast, Mr Bailey sent the Bulletin the exact same response as last week.

Ms Edwards said she would not be giving up until someone took action.

“I will be organising a meeting with the minister in Brisbane. I don’t think he knows who I am and that I don’t give up easily,” she said.

“I’m just happy someone is acknowledging the problem.”

A council report this year revealed congestion in the area was caused by motorists driving across the interchange bridges on the M1, with just 40 per cent wanting to access the motorway.

A little further south motorists have complained of taking 23 minutes to travel 150 metres on Pimpama’s Yawalpah Road near Exit 49.