Controversial corridor being dusted off for another election campaign
Work to decide the future of Brisbaneās North West Transport Corridor has already been politicised and will soon feature in a federal election
Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey recently accused Brisbane City Council of planning a new motorway for the cityās northern suburbs. Labor MPs made the same claims during the last election, hoping to embroil the state Liberal National Party in the controversy surrounding the project.
Council has federal funding for a business case to consider future road and public transport needs in Brisbaneās north-west, including along the long-preserved corridor that stretches from Alderley to Aspley.
The business case is due to be presented to federal agency Infrastructure Australia by the end of the year ā likely coinciding with the next federal election campaign. InQueensland understands the major parties regard it as a ālive issueā among local voters, with some wanting less congestion and others already concerned about over-development.
Bailey told parliament he had twice written to LNP Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to āstop this push for a new motorway and, instead, work with us cooperativelyā.
āI give north-side communities an assurance now that the Palaszczuk Labor government does not support and will never support the North West Transport Corridor being used for a new motorway,ā Bailey said.
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But the councilās infrastructure chair, David McLachlan, said that had never been the intention of the business case.
āMinister Baileyās comments about a motorway are misleading as we are exploring all options to reduce transport along theĀ northĀ westĀ corridor, with public transport a high priority,ā McLachlan said.
āCouncil has previously invited the Department of Transport and Main Roads to participate in the development of this business case.
āWe would welcome active State Government participation in determining outcomes that would provide a range of travel choices for those living in this growing region. Delivering high quality public and active transport infrastructure would reduce the need for trips by private vehicles, reducing congestion and improving the efficient movement of freight and business vehicles.ā
The governmentās South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017 recognises the corridor as a future multi-modal transport corridor.
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