Mayor and LNP pressure state govt over stalled transport strategy

After five years of planning, Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn wants the state government to take action on an integrated transport strategy that would include upgrading dangerous intersections and improving the city’s flood evacuation routes.

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn and Burnett LNP MP Stephen Bennett are demanding answers for Bundaberg's dangerous intersections.

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn has called for urgent progress on the Bundaberg Integrated Transport Strategy to improve local and state road safety in the region, reduce congestion and address key infrastructure issues.

The joint initiative between Bundaberg Regional Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads has undergone five years of planning but has hit a wall, awaiting action from the state government to move the project into community consultation.

Ms Blackburn on Monday urged Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith to involve the community in the next phase.

“It’s time we saw concrete steps forward,“ she said.

Mayor Helen Blackburn is bushing for road safety plans to be approved in the region.

“We want to continue to work together with the state government and local member Tom Smith to get this project in front of the public so our community can have a say.“

Mr Smith said he openly supported the project but it was not his call to make.
“The minister would have to release it, but I back it,” Mr Smith said.

The strategy sets an overall transport plan outlining several high-priority intersection upgrades.

The list of proposed BITS projects include:

Upgrades to the intersection of Bundaberg Ring Road and Kay McDuff Drive to traffic signals, complete the Turtle Trail between Elliott Heads and Burnett Heads, improve footpath connectivity around activity centres, undertake intersection safety improvements to Princess Street/Scotland Street, and improvements to flood evacuation routes.

Bundaberg Labor MP Tom Smith says it must be the Transport Minister who releases the strategy.

With the strategy completely developed, Ms Blackburn said it was now just a waiting game.
A community concern that wasn't addressed in the BITS plan was the “dangerous” Bargara-Hughes Road intersection. 

LNP Burnett MP Stephen Bennett said last week the intersection had been ignored for years.

It was a tragedy waiting to happen, with near misses near Bargara State School regularly, Mr Bennett said.

A TMR spokesperson said they had commenced investigations into potential future transport infrastructure requirements at the intersection.

“The busy intersection, is currently not signalised and has a history of vehicle crashes and community concerns about its safety,” the spokesperson said.

“TMR has assessed preliminary options for the intersection and identified that traffic signals could achieve better safety outcomes, including safer options for pedestrians and school children.”

Originally published as Mayor and LNP pressure state govt over stalled transport strategy