The second M1: Is Labor committed to building the Coomera Connector?

A furious row has broken out about the Coomera Connector or ‘second M1’ amid claims it could be a remarkably long time before it is finished.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has challenged the Opposition to explain how it will fund the second M1 after speculation the Coomera Connector will take decades to build.

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli during Question Time in State Parliament today seized on comments from Macalister MP Melissa McMahon that it could take 40 years to finish the six-lane highway from Nerang to Stapleton.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gestures during Question Time at the Queensland Parliament. Picture: AAP.

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The Labor backbencher when maps for the planned route were previously produced, to ease concerns of residents at Eagleby, called for calm saying the project was in the consultation phase.

Mr Crisafulli in Parliament today during Question Time said: “Does the Premier have any plan to build the second M1.”

Ms Palaszczuk responded by saying the Government had provided $10 million towards the planning of the second M1. The six-lane highway could cost as much as $2.4 billion.

“It’s Labor that has done the alignment. I had a briefing on it. We’ve done the alignment. We’ve preserved it. And we’ve got it there secured for the future,” she said.

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Broadwater MP David Crisafulli asked the Premier about the second M1.

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The Premier said she would wait until tomorrow to hear Opposition leader Deb Frecklington “talk about $5 billion in unfunded commitments” in her Budget-in-reply speech.

“Let’s see how the LNP is going to fund the second M1. Let’s put it on the table tomorrow. There is the challenge for the leader of the Opposition,” the Premier said.

Outside the Parliament, Bonney MP Sam O’Connor said Labor had shown no commitment to the Coomera Connector after it was gazetted four years ago.

“They are just promoting old planning money to make it look like they’re doing something,” he said.

“Residents next to the corridor need to know what this road is going to look like. They need straight answers from the Government.”

Mr O’Connor said the second M1 was “long overdue” and Coast needed connections between their suburbs which were not national highways.

Earlier in Question time Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon asked the Premier to update how the Budget would deliver funding initiatives for the Coast.

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The proposed route of the Coomera Connector.

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“My government took the decision that we would actually fund the Spit masterplan upgrades. We want to transform that Spit into a world class tourism destination — that’s $60 million from the government will be there.

“Sea World has put in $50 million of their own money to upgrade Sea World and the Gold Coast City council — it’s great when you work in partnership — we work with the Gold Coast City council - $35 million (from them).”

The Premier announced several school upgrades along with funding for exits on the Pacific Motorway.

“Also $120 million will be there to deliver three new Gold Coast train stations. I know that is something we talked about at the last election,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Those stations will be at Pimpama, Helensvale north and around Merrimac. Of course with health there is $2.6 million of refurbishment and upgrades — and Lamington National Park got $650,000 for new facilities as well as Springbrook, $500,000 worth of new facilities at Natural Arch.”