Second Gold Coast M1: Labor MP casts doubt on project ever happening
The State Government has been accused of ‘being all talk’ about building a duplicate M1 after comments from a Labor MP emerged saying it was ‘just a proposal’. Now they’re being asked to take one simple step to prove they’re serious.
Transport
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The State Government has no commitment to build a second M1 with the Opposition predicting there would be no funding in next month’s Budget.
The LNP has seized upon comments by Macalister MP Melissa McMahon after she described the Coomera Connector as “a proposal”.
“There are many studies, including environmental and social impact studies, particularly at the northern end, that have to be completed before a final alignment would be decided,” the Beenleigh-based Labor MP said.
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Opposition leader Deb Frecklington – who was on the Coast today at the Parkwood light rail station with Bonney MP Sam O’Connor and Theodore MP Mark Boothman – said it was obvious Labor would not be committing any serious funding to the project in the upcoming Budget.
Ms Frecklington urged the Government to give the Coast a “fair go” as one of the fastest growing regions in the State was lagging behind in much needed infrastructure.
“It is really obvious the Labor Government has stalled on funding the second M1,” Ms Frecklington said.
“We’ve got the corridor just behind us, we have the LNP committing half a billion dollars to get this project started. What we need to see is Annastacia Palaszczuk put the money on the table in the upcoming budget.”
Mr O’Connor said residents needed some certainty about the Coomera Connector, which was first proposed in the 1990s and finally gazetted in 2016.
He said the latest route impacted on hundreds of residents who had bought luxury homes at Arundel Springs and The Surrounds east of the railway and tram corridor.
“It’s just broken promises. There is all this talk on this. There is nothing firm,” Mr O’Connor said.
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“At the moment we have no idea where it is going. Now it looks like the government is not committed to building it.
“I’m told they are regazetting a section. It would have gone through the back garages of townhouses at Arundel Springs. If there is nothing in the budget papers it shows they’re not serious.
“From the Mayor down to everyone else, they’re saying this is the biggest infrastructure project for the city other than light rail stage three.”
The Opposition for the past 12 months has been demanding to know when work would start on the six-lane alternative to the M1, previously known as the Intra-Regional Transport Corridor (IRTC).
Transport Minister Mark Bailey previously told the Bulletin construction of the alternative highway hinges on further growth in traffic demand and funding availability.
The proposed six-lane highway between Nerang and Stapleton is tipped to take up to 60,000 vehicles each day off the M1.
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