Townsville northern suburbs residents in dark about vital traffic corridor: MP Dametto
Townsville’s traffic-gridlocked northern residents are in the dark as to whether urgent road upgrades are on the way, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto says.
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Traffic-gridlocked residents of Townsville’s rapidly expanding northern suburbs have been given scant assurance that critical road upgrades are on the way any time soon, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto says.
The Katter’s Australian Party deputy leader submitted a question on notice in parliament last month, asking Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg whether or not the state government was committed to funding a $20 million business case to ensure the northern suburbs received the vital infrastructure investment, expected to cost around $900 million.
In his response, Mr Mickelberg said a $2.3 million preliminary evaluation completed in mid-2024 had allowed “greater understanding of the challenges of this complex infrastructure location” and “identified several options to upgrade the road network”.
“These options are concepts only, and wider consultation with stakeholders and potentially impacted landowners will occur once funding for a business case is secured.”
Mr Dametto, speaking on Monday, said he had anticipated the answer and had already submitted a follow-up question.
“We asked this week what steps the minister and (Transport and Main Roads) taken to apply to Treasury for the $20 million necessary to undertake a business case,” he said.
“It’s a lot of money but they are talking about an around $900 million project, depending on what option they go with.”
A petition lodged by Mr Dametto in Queensland Parliament calling for critical road upgrades has already secured almost 3000 signatures.
It says Woolcock Street from Veales Road to Ingham Road is already at full capacity with multiple intersections completely clogged by traffic.
“Peak-hour congestion has become a daily frustration, and any disruptions, such as roadworks, accidents or flooding over the lower (northbound) Bohle River Bridge, brings traffic to a standstill.”
Mr Dametto said the upgrade would be crucial in supporting “the exponential growth of the northern suburbs corridor”.
“We have a number of developers right now seeking to unlock around 6000 (residential) blocks, essentially we need to ensure that the road infrastructure can keep up, not only with the growth that is happening now, but with future growth.”
He said the infrastructure project was even more vital given the housing crisis.
“We have a housing shortage, we have a property shortage here in Townsville, it doesn’t matter if you are trying to rent or buy a property, the exacerbated prices are because of a lack of properties available on the market,” he said.
“The only way to fix that is to build more houses: you can build more houses but you also need to protect the liveability of places like Townsville.”
Mr Dametto said the city had previously “done pretty well” with road projects, including the Ring Road to name just one.
“But the Northern Beaches has been the forgotten or perhaps the last piece of the puzzle that needs to be addressed.”
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