Opposition statement: A solution to Brisbane?s western suburbs traffic woes ...

[ozbob]

Western Brisbane transport solution needed now

Friday, 4 April 2008

A solution to Brisbane?s western suburbs traffic woes is needed now not in 20 years.


The Queensland Opposition called today?s announcement by the Bligh Government just another "con job" from a Government more interested in creating illusions rather than delivering solutions.


Shadow Infrastructure Minister Fiona Simpson and Shadow Minister for Transport and Traffic Management Tim Nicholls said traffic in Brisbane was grinding to a halt now and congestion was only going to get worse if the State Labor Government continued to dither.


"The Beattie-Bligh Labor Governments have had 10 years to come up with a solution to south-east Queensland?s transport woes and after spending $17 million on yet another study, they?re saying it could be another 20 years before something is done," Ms Simpson said.


Mr Nicholls said today?s announcement was a "magician?s trick" from a desperate State Government that had suddenly realized it was in transport and traffic trouble.


"These are just lines on a map that do not remove one single minute from people trying to get to work in the morning. We need delivery timeframes, we need to know when key decisions will be made, we need a business case. And we need action not words," he said.


"How much longer do the people of Brisbane have to put up with traffic gridlock and heavy vehicles thundering through the city?"


Mr Nicholls also questioned where the money would be coming from to pay for the new road proposals and why they weren?t included in the SEQ Infrastructure Plan.


Ms Simpson said the Labor Government had failed to build new water infrastructure until the last minute and it appeared the same thing was going to happen with transport.


"The main reason south-east Queensland is in the grip of a water crisis is because this Labor Government did nothing for years and now has to madly build a raft of infrastructure at a premium price while residents suffer under harsh water restrictions," she said.


"The same thing is happening with transport. We?re still getting more paper and no concrete from a State Labor Government big on slogans and studies, but poor on actual delivery."


Member for Moggill Bruce Flegg welcomed the State Government?s move to rule out a bypass running through Brookfield, The Gap, Samford, Brisbane Forrest Park and Pullenvale, but wanted more details on the other options being proposed.


"While I am pleased the inner bypass option has been ruled out, the State Government must recognise that traffic congestion in the western suburbs of Brisbane is a problem now - and it is increasing," he said.


"Most people are spending too much time caught in traffic that could be better spent at home with their families. We just need to get it on with it and start the work."

http://www.qldcoalition.org.au/news/article.aspx?ID=2260