Why governments must move fast to upgrade M1 on back of Federal Budget $1 billion offer

FAST tracking a $2 billion upgrade to the Pacific Motorway and building stage three of light rail to the border will be the focus of Federal MPs after tomorrow’s budget.

Traffic congestion about 8am on the M1. Picture Glenn Hampson

FAST tracking a $2 billion upgrade to the Pacific Motorway and building stage three of light rail to the border will be the focus of Federal MPs after tomorrow’s budget.

The big ticket item budget items for the Coast have been pre-announced with the Turnbull Government committing to fund $1 billion for the highway upgrade to Tugun and a $140 million funding boost for the film industry.

The congested M1 at morning peak hour. Picture Glenn Hampson

The MPs say the next critical move to ensure taxpayers get their bang for buck will be for the State to sign off on its $1 billion so a massive construction and planning workforce remains in place.

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and Federal Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher met last month and had “constructive talks” after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull committed $1 billion to widen the M1 between Varsity and Tugun and at the Gateway merge between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill.

After finishing planning work, two massive congestion-busting M1 upgrades are about to start on widening the M1 between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes and the M1/M3 Gateway Merge.

Federal Member for Forde Bert Van Manen wants work to keep rolling out along the M1 upgrade.

Forde MP Bert Van Manen told the Bulletin: “For me, the biggest ticket item (from the budget) is the M1. That’s what my focus is on, getting that costed.”

The Federal Government’s commitment was in “black and white” on the table, and that would allow planning while the current work the congestion busting upgrades was continuing.

“As that finishes, they can spend the next two years getting all their plans in place,” Mr Van Manen said.

“By rolling on program after program, it generates savings and effectiveness. You just move to the next site and get going.”

Fadden MP Stuart Robert said the budget had ticked off on his wish list for the Coast with the focus now on light rail.

Fadden MP Stuart Robert says the budget will fund his wish list for the Coast. Picture Mike Batterham

“The M1 is finished — we’ve offered $1 billion and a 30 per cent location offset for the film industry,” Mr Robert said.

“Our $147 million for the Commonwealth Games built the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre that I opened, so that got ticked off as major bricks and mortar for the north.

“Next projects for the following 12 months are to drive a light rail spur up Olsen Avenue to Harbour Town, sink a war ship off the Gold Coast, make the IRTC a reality as a duplicate for the M1.

“These three projects are owned by the State Government, so I’m looking forward to working with them on them.”

McPherson MP Karen Andrews said her focus after the M1 announcement would be to continue improving transport infrastructure on the Coast’s southern end.

“Light rail stage three is the next on my agenda. I’d be looking at pushing along similar lines to stage two where there was Commonwealth funding,” Ms Andrews said.

The major concern for the Federal Government is further delays on the M1 upgrade with the State rumoured to be not be ready to provide funding until 2021.

“We have said we would make the money available when they’re ready to draw on it,” Ms Andrews said.

Labor-based Coast Senator Murray Watt warns the Government has some big priorities to address on the Coast. Picture Kym Smith.

Coast-based Labor Senator Murray Watt has welcomed the M1 announcement but said the region “still has some big priorities that need to be addressed”.

“They need to use this Budget to deliver on what Gold Coasters really want — affordable healthcare, properly funded infrastructure and investment in our local industries,” he said.

Senator Watt said the Budget should provide a reversal of Trade Minister and Coast MP Steven Ciobo’s $35 million in cuts to Tourism Australia.

He urged the Government to provide a funding commitment for Cross River Rail, which will cut 15 minutes off the Gold Coast to Brisbane commute, and a reversal of the millions of dollars in cuts to the Gold Coast University, Robina and Logan hospitals.

“Instead of giving a $13.2 billion tax cut to the banks, Malcolm Turnbull and his LNP MPs should use this money to help our local community,” Senator Watt said.