Notorious Harbour Town junction to be upgraded within next two years

Transport Minister Mark Bailey says $10m has been committed and planning is ‘well underway’ to upgrade one of the Gold Coast’s most notorious intersections. Find out when the work is expected to begin.

TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey has pledged that a notorious Gold Coast intersection will be upgraded within the next two years despite a war of words flaring over its funding.

Fadden MP and Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert yesterday announced the Morrison government would commit $5 million towards the upgrade at the junction of Olsen Avenue/Oxley Drive and Brisbane Road if re-elected.

The announcement was welcomed by the state member for Bonney Sam O’Connor, who said Mr Bailey should “jump at the deal” and “show he’s not all talk.”

Sam O'Connor and Stuart Robert speak to media at the problem intersection yesterday.

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“It’s one of the busiest (intersections) on the Gold Coast and one of our worst bottlenecks,” Mr O’Connor said.

“We’ve had no funding from the State Government so I’m happy to see the Federal Government stepping up with $5 million. That’s half of the project cost on the table, not just committed but budgeted.

“The State Government have identified this as a priority, the planning is done and we’re ready to get shovels in the ground. They need to match the funding in their upcoming budget so we can get this fixed.

“Mark Bailey should jump at this deal and show he’s not all talk. My community wants this intersection sorted out and we’ve already waited too long for something to be done.”

The intersection, which is beside Harbour Town shopping centre, is one of the busiest on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

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But Mr Bailey – who has been engaged in a war of words with Mr O’Connor regarding funding for the Gold Coast light rail – today accused the LNP of being “misleading” and failing to “tell the whole story” about the upgrade plans.

Mr Bailey said the State Government had already committed $10 million to the project, with construction expected to begin within the next 24 months.

“The Federal LNP, Stuart Robert and Sam O’Connor should tell Gold Coasters the whole story,” Mr Bailey said.

“In the Federal LNP’s very own budget they indicate there’s no funding on their end for this intersection, and potentially hundreds of others roads in their Urban Congestion Fund ‘next priorities’, for at least four years.

“The Palaszczuk Government has already committed $10 million to deliver the Olsen Avenue, Oxley Drive and Brisbane Road intersection upgrade, and we’re well underway with planning, with construction expected to commence in 2020/21.”

Traffic backed up at the junction following an accident.

Mr Bailey also accused the LNP of “ignoring their obligations” to residents of the Gold Coast in relation to transport funding.

“Stuart Robert, Karen Andrews and the Federal LNP won’t fairly fund congestion busting projects like Light Rail Stage 3A and the M1 because we stood up and said no to asset sales, and now they’re misleading the coast once again with this announcement,” he said.

“$5 million may help with the intersection upgrade we’ve already started planning for, but it’s not the $157 million we need for light rail.

“Why should we be jumping with excitement for a project we’re already delivering, when everyone knows they are ignoring their obligations for the residents of the Gold Coast. They should fund light rail properly.

“The Gold Coast LNP clearly has no pull in Canberra and lacklustre announcements like this prove it.”