Moggill Electorate, Traffic Infrastructure

Dr ROWAN (Moggill—LNP) (7.01 pm): Labor is a consistent roadblock when it comes to busting local traffic congestion across the western suburbs of Brisbane. Years of inaction and failure has seen traffic congestion only worsen under the Queensland state Labor government. Labor is also failing to deliver sufficient public transport services across the electorate of Moggill.

It is more than 190 days since local community consultation was concluded on the Kenmore roundabout upgrade project, yet local residents continue to be left in the dark by a state Labor government that is content with allowing local residents and families to sit in traffic for longer. The overwhelming community feedback provided to the state government was that the Labor Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Hon. Mark Bailey MP, has produced flawed road designs which will simply not resolve safety concerns and will in fact make traffic congestion more problematic for local residents.

The state Labor government should be implementing an integrated road and public transport plan for the western suburbs of Brisbane. The Liberal National Party believes that such a plan is integral to busting traffic congestion and enhancing public transport whilst improving cyclist and pedestrian safety. Local Liberal National Party colleagues, including the federal member for Ryan, Julian Simmonds MP, and councillor Greg Adderman of the Pullenvale ward, are providing the resourcing and funding of both the federal government and Brisbane City Council in order to deliver local infrastructure solutions. However, there is unanimous agreement that what is also desperately needed is a Liberal National Party state government which can implement infrastructure solutions on state controlled roads on behalf of local residents.

Last month marked a very tragic anniversary—10 years since local resident Richard Pollett was killed while cycling along Moggill Road from his parents’ home in Kenmore. Local cyclists and cycle advocacy groups, including the Brisbane West Bicycle Users Group and Space for Cycling, are continuing to slam the state Labor government for failing to take meaningful action to address vital cyclist safety as a matter of urgency.

Along with enhanced and additional footpaths along the state government controlled Moggill and Mount Crosby roads, local cyclists’ safety must be a priority for the state Labor government. Labor’s Minister for Transport and Main Roads must urgently plan, fund and deliver infrastructure solutions. I call on the Queensland state government and the Brisbane City Council to work collaboratively and constructively via the joint Active Transport Advisory Committee to deliver solutions on behalf of local residents. This also includes both levels of governments delivering a full road and traffic bridge at Bellbowrie.

Local residents also deserve a full and transparent explanation from Labor’s Minister for Transport and Main Roads about the state government’s intentions for the Kenmore bypass. Any intended development should have comprehensive and transparent public consultation. Finally, local residents continue to raise with me their significant concerns about the recently installed guardrails along Mount Crosby Road and the devastating impacts this is having on local native wildlife including koalas. That is why I have written to Labor’s Minister for Transport and Main Roads seeking an urgent meeting with Department of Transport and Main Roads representatives to discuss these matters. Certainly, the minister can do a lot better when it comes to traffic in the western suburbs of Brisbane.