A new political force has been formed to fight for more funding to upgrade the Bruce Highway.
Queensland’s east coast Federal LNP Members have joined forces to lobby for a significant boost in funding for the Bruce Highway between Cooroy and Cairns.
The Bruce Highway group consists of Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch, Member for Hinkler Paul Neville, Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss, Member for Herbert Ewen Jones, Member for Dawson George Christensen and Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd.
Mr Truss will also liaise with the group in his role as Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister.
Warren Entsch said the group would create a more powerful lobbying force within Parliament.
“Every single member of the group understands the importance of fixing the Bruce Highway, whether it be the creation of more overtaking lanes, surface improvements, floodproofing or eliminating known black spots,
“In Leichhardt we need a viable second access on the southside of Cairns to ease traffic congestion and ensure that businesses and homes are not destroyed,” said Mr Entsch.
“In some areas between it may even be necessary to realign parts of the highway.
“Other stretches of the highway will have their own particular problems which need fixing, and my colleagues are well placed to identify those works.
“The highway has claimed too many lives and been responsible for too many near misses for us to let this opportunity pass by, and by combining our voices within the Coalition, we will be even stronger advocates for improving it.”
Mr Entsch said the group had already met with Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Warren Truss to talk about their plans.
“Mr Truss fully appreciates our position. He is a former Transport Minister, is the current Shadow Minister, and the notorious Cooroy to Curra stretch of the highway is in his electorate.
“I look forward to working with the Coalition’s group to try and get the funding we need to bring the Bruce Highway up to scratch.”
The group intends to meet with the State and Federal Ministers and Shadow Ministers for Transport in the New Year to further progress plans.
