Member for Ipswich West Wendy Bourne is calling on the Crisafulli LNP Government to commit funding for the major transport infrastructure desperately needed to keep pace with the region’s rapid growth.
Ipswich is Queensland’s fastest-growing local government area, but Ms Bourne said investment in the roads and public transport needed to support that growth was continuing to fall behind despite significant funding committed by the Federal Government and previous State Government.
From the Amberley and Mt Crosby Road interchanges to the Centenary Highway and Ipswich to Springfield rail corridor, several major projects remain delayed, deferred or without the funding needed to progress.
“Our communities are growing rapidly, there are more cars on our roads and congestion is getting worse, but the infrastructure investment simply isn’t keeping up,” Ms Bourne said.
“People in Ipswich West see it every day when they’re sitting in traffic trying to get to work, taking the kids to school or simply trying to get around their community.
“Our community needs certainty. We need a transparent plan for what is going to be delivered and clear timeframes, rather than excuses and deferrals.”
The Albanese Labor Government has committed $200 million towards upgrading the Cunningham Highway–Ipswich Rosewood Road intersection at Amberley (Amberley Interchange), secured by Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann, building on planning funding previously invested.
However, the Crisafulli Government is yet to commit the State funding required to deliver the upgrade.
Funding has also been deferred for the Mt Crosby Interchange, despite $277 million previously being jointly committed by the former State and current Federal Governments. Around $170 million has now been pushed into 2029–30.
“The Amberley and Mt Crosby interchanges are two of the clearest examples of projects our community has been waiting years to see delivered,” Ms Bourne said.
“The Federal Government has put $200 million on the table for Amberley, but we are still waiting for the State Government to step up with its share.”
“At Mt Crosby, we had a funded project ready to move forward following extensive planning from the previous government, but without warning, $170 million has been pushed years down the road.”
Ms Bourne said greater certainty was also needed for the Ipswich to Springfield public transport corridor and future upgrades to the Centenary Highway between Darra and Yamanto, all of which had planning underway under the previous Miles Labor Government but have received little to no update on their progress under the current Government.
Closer to home, Ms Bourne has continued raising safety concerns about the dangerous Haigslea–Amberley Road and Schultz Road intersection, that continues to experience major traffic incidents.
Ms Bourne has also called for a safety audit at the Walloon roundabout as further growth places even greater pressure on local roads. With major residential development in Walloon expected to deliver around 2,000 new lots, Ms Bourne said an upgrade to this intersection is urgently needed.
“We’re talking about everything from major highways and rail connections to the intersections and public transport people rely on every day,” Ms Bourne said.
“These projects cannot continually be kicked down the road while thousands more people call our region home.”
“With the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games approaching, the need to get ahead of our region’s transport infrastructure requirements is only becoming more urgent.
“It’s time for the Crisafulli Government to look towards the west and give our growing communities the infrastructure and the certainty they deserve.”
ENDS
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