No more roads funding will likely stop new traffic and housing construction across Moreton Bay City, council says.
The comment was made to Council’s submissions for budgetary funding to the state and federal governments.
Mayor Peter Flannery says congestion is already at crisis levels: planned homes can-not be built without new or upgraded roads.
“We’ve literally hit a fork in the road. Without serious road investment from the state and federal governments, traffic will come to a standstill and there will be no connections to areas earmarked for tens of thousands of homes,” he says.
“Our existing road network is already struggling to cater for our booming population, which is set to nearly double to one million in the next 30 years.
“When it comes to growth, all roads seem to lead to Moreton Bay but funding for critical infrastructure is lagging behind.”
LIST OF ROADS WORKS
Flannery says their top funding request is to fast-track the Bruce Highway Western Alternative, which will allow for more housing for 100,000 residents.
It wants federal and state funding to build the Bruce Highway alternative by 2032 (nine years ahead of schedule).
Moreton Bay Council also wants $150 million over three years to complete design and preconstruction work on the Buchanan Road Overpass and Duplication; a complete overpass will ease congestion by connecting major state roads with the Bruce Highway and allow for new housing at Waraba and North Harbour.
Council also wants funding help for the following projects:
Open level crossing treatments and removals.
Stormwater upgrades ($14m) at Caboolture for 400 new dwellings.
Scarborough Drainage improvements project for 510 new homes and existing residents.
$10m to upgrade James Drysdale Reserve.
$8m for a new baseball clubhouse and facilities at Kippa-Ring’s Talobilla Park.
Help with a $16m upgrade of the Queensland State Equestrian Centre.
“Council stands ready to do the heavy lifting and manage our rapid growth but we must be properly resourced so we can deliver the infrastructure and services our community deserves,” Flannery says.
“We must receive adequate funding to meet the current and future needs of our city.”
