Ipswich West MP Wendy Bourne spoke in Parliament this week with renewed calls for urgent progress on some of the region’s most critical infrastructure projects: the Bremer River Bridge and the Mount Crosby Interchange. I stood with the federal member for Blair, Shayne Neumann MP, during 2024 and applauded their $177 million commitment to these projects. The then Miles Government ensured that there was already $134.5 million for the Mount Crosby interchange and $42.5 million to fix the Bremer River Bridge.
Despite funding being committed, Ms Bourne stated that updates regarding their status from the current Government minister have been slow, vague and frustrating.
“It’s time to stop the blame game and get on with it. Our community deserves better. I’m focused on outcomes, not playing politics, and will continue to fight for the road and transport infrastructure our region needs.”
The full speech:
I was elected to a seat that has some major infrastructure issues. Luckily for the residents of Ipswich West, I have rolled up my sleeves and am advocating hard for these essential upgrades in what is the fastest growing region. Every day I get at least one constituent, if not more, contacting me to inquire on the status of two important projects—the Bremer River Bridge and the Mount Crosby interchange.
I place these two projects together as they are both as important as each other and they sit beside the Warrego Highway. I stood with the federal member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, during 2024 and applauded their $177 million commitment to these projects. The then Miles government ensured that there was already $134.5 million for the Mount Crosby interchange and $42.5 million to fix the Bremer River Bridge in 2024.
The Mount Crosby interchange upgrade has been ongoing since before 2017. The residents are sick of community consultation with no visible outcomes, and the bottleneck of traffic and the backup of vehicles is alarming and dangerous. The steel section of the Bremer River Bridge supports approximately 30,000 vehicles per day, including approximately 4,000 heavy vehicles.
Commuters continue to grapple with delays on the Bremer River Bridge due to reduced speed limits and they have had enough. They just want to see this long, overdue project started. The second river crossing is exactly the kind of investment our community needs.
The community as far back as the 1960s has advocated for this crossing and growing community congestion in the city centre is creating more pressure on the capacity and service life of the existing David Trumpy Bridge.
During the election in 2024, I helped to secure a commitment of $146 million if Labor was to be re-elected—$4 million for the business case and the remaining $142 million to be invested in the construction of the bridge. The LNP at the time committed to invest in this business case alone and I say, ‘Get on with it!’
These projects are long overdue and to get an update on their status has been nothing short of frustrating, leaving the community very frustrated.
When I ask the minister for an update on these vital infrastructure projects, all I get is the minister looking in his rear-view mirror and not keeping his eyes on the road.
I am not interested in the politics of these projects; I just want the job done—no more of the blame game. I am committed to delivering the road and transport infrastructure our growing community needs.
