Wagner calls for government to 'get off backside' on bypass

CONSTRUCTION companies are waiting for the next stage of the Toowoomba bypass process to begin as the likelihood of construction starting this year dwindles.

CONSTRUCTION companies are waiting on tenterhooks for the next stage of the Toowoomba bypass process to begin as the likelihood of construction starting this year dwindles.

Wagners chairman John Wagner has called on the State and Federal Governments to hurry up and begin the three-month expression of interest process for the $1.7billion project.

"The funding is there, now they need to get off their backsides and get stuff happening," he said.

"If the EOI process is going to take three months, and they take two months to assess, we won't see any construction until early next year.

"But they need to act right now if that's going to happen."

Toowoomba businessman John Wagner. Picture: Bev Lacey

Member for Groom and Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane's assurance in July, 2010 that "...work on the bypass would begin in the first year of an Abbott Government" seems impossible.

Given the three-month window for the EOI process and a possible two-month assessment period, if the documentation required for EOIs was released tomorrow, successful companies would not be notified until October at the soonest - a month behind Abbott's first-year anniversary.

The successful companies will likely still require months of preparation before any tangible construction begins.

Map of Toowoomba bypass planned route. Photo Contributed. Picture: Contributed

Mr Macfarlane has acknowledged the process is dragging on.

"We're finalising the expression of interest document… it is taking longer than expected," he told The Chronicle on Tuesday.

"Agreement has to be reached between the State and Federal government.

"There will be a three-month EOI process.

"Depending on what comes out of that, we'll need to decide whether to go forward… in a public-private partnership, or go for default partnership, which is where the Commonwealth and State pay for the construction.

"We hope to get the document out sooner rather than later."

Member for Groom Ian Macfarlane (right) and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at the top of the Toowoomba range to confirm the Coalition’s commitment to building the $1.75 billion bypass.

So what factors have caused the hold-up?

Mr Macfarlane is apportioned the blame to the Queensland Government.

"You'd have to ask the State Treasurer about that," Mr Macfarlane said.

"There are discussions ongoing.

"I understand the Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss is meeting with him next Monday."

The call for expressions of interest for the Toowoomba bypass was originally scheduled to begin in late-March of this year.

Originally published as Wagner calls for government to 'get off backside' on bypass