Today’s release of Infrastructure Australia’s 15-year Australia Infrastructure Plan has identified urban congestion as the cause of gridlock on the M1 Pacific Motorway, with the problem considered a priority initiative.
Federal Member for Forde, Bert van Manen MP commends the report’s identification of the M1 Pacific Motorway – Gateway Motorway merge as a priority project, however, the development stage is being delayed by Queensland Labor inaction.
“Unfortunately, this project is still at the Business Case development stage because the Queensland Labor Government is failing to put forward the plans needed to get this project underway,” Mr van Manen said.
“The Australia Infrastructure Plan has identified that urban congestion from commuters is almost at capacity, and we need to see action soon.
“The longer Queensland Labor stalls on completing and lodging a business case to Infrastructure Australia, the longer south east Queensland commuters will be waiting for a solution to the gridlock.”
Mr van Manen said the Queensland Labor Government had not responded to an in-principle offer from the Coalition Government to fund $10 million, or 50 per cent of the costs of the proposed $20 million planning project.
“Queensland is projected to grow considerably over the next 15 years, placing increased pressure on the state’s infrastructure,” Mr van Manen said.
“Without action, the cost of road congestion across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast is projected to increase from $1.9 billion in 2011, to $9.2 billion in 2031.”
“The Queensland Government needs to work with the Australian Government on a pathway to improving the quality of infrastructure, including the M1.”
A copy of the Australian Infrastructure Plan can be found at http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/policy-publications/publications/Australian-Infrastructure-Plan.aspx
