McVeigh urges road upgrades after Warrego Highway fatality

GROOM MP John McVeigh has urged governments to collaborate to upgrade roads in the wake of a horrific fatal crash on the Warrego Highway earlier this month.

Fatal crash, involving a truck and two cars on Warrego Highway at the intersection Brimblecombe Road. September 2018. Picture: Bev Lacey

GROOM MP John McVeigh has urged governments to collaborate to upgrade roads in the wake of a horrific fatal crash on the Warrego Highway earlier this month.

Dr McVeigh said the region was in the midst of a significant growth period with low unemployment, with more business and job opportunities on the horizon.

But that growth must be supported by government, he said.

"I want to briefly address access to the Wellcamp Airport, in Groom, directly from the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing," he said.

Olivia Harwood, 17, died after a crash on the Warego Hwy near Oakey. Picture: Contributed

"Unless we work together to finalise that, we'll simply have to retrofit with millions and millions of dollars of work in the years to come.

"Now is the time to do it."

Dr McVeigh made particular mention of Brimblecombe Rd which connects with the Warrego Highway and was where Rockhampton school senior Olivia Harwood, 17, died in a horrific three-vehicle crash.

Her mother, Beverly Harwood, 44, died a week later in hospital.

Bev Harwood tragically died on Monday as a result of her injuries from a three-vehicle crash near Oakey which killed her 17-year-old daughter, Olivia. Picture: Contributed

"I note that, just in recent weeks, there has been a tragic accident at the corner of Brimblecombe Rd and the Warrego Highway, with the loss of life of a young lady and her mum who were travelling through our region," he said.

"This is about freight and passenger access to the airport and, particularly, safety."

Dr McVeigh told the House of Representatives that "regional development must be supported".

"All levels of government must work together," he said.

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"I've been campaigning on that for some years.

"I'll continue to fight, but I implore our mayor; our relevant state ministers, particularly Minister (Mark) Bailey; and our federal minister, the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, to do just that: to work together to ensure that these pieces of the jigsaw puzzle in Groom, which has so much to offer, are being addressed - for freight, passengers and safety."

Originally published as McVeigh urges road upgrades after Warrego Highway fatality