A Sunshine Coast politician has scolded the Department of Transport and Main Roads for removing references to safety and congestion from a letter about a neglected intersection.
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson highlighted the “doctoring” of a message to her regarding the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade.
A Right to Information search revealed the government made several changes to the correspondence before it was eventually sent to Ms Simpson, including the removal of key words ‘safety’, ‘congestion’, and ‘priority’.
But a TMR spokesperson has told Sunshine Coast News the junction remains a “priority” and officials were investigating alternatives and funding options “to address safety and congestion concerns at the interchange”.
The upgrade was essentially cast aside last year, when the federal government withdrew its funding commitment for Stage 1 of the project.
It then emerged that works for Stage 1 would cost more than twice as much as expected ($750 million instead of $320 million) and the project appeared to hit a dead end.
There was no money in this month’s federal budget for it.
Ms Simpson asked the government a series of questions regarding the interchange and its future, before receiving the amended letter.
One of the several paragraphs that was removed stated: “The MRIU Upgrade project remains a priority for the government. Stage 1 will address safety and congestion issues that are forecast to increase due to regional population growth and development. It is also the key to unlocking significant public transport projects on the Sunshine Coast and is the trigger for major infrastructure transformation in the region.”
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Ms Simpson called out the changes made to the correspondence.
“You can’t just edit out references to safety and congestion from a letter and the problem goes away,” she said.
“I just shake my head (at) a transport minister with no regard for road safety, no priority for future transport and no regard for the displaced people from the homes demolished (to make way for the upgrade).
“I want to know … how the state government is going to improve and ensure safety in this black spot?
“The state government needs to cease their dodgy behaviour of doctoring communications and avoiding the question as to what they’re going to do to fix this congestion point and when?”
Ms Simpson labelled the intersection “one of the most dangerous black spots in the area” and said the region would be “in limbo” if the project was abandoned.
But the TMR spokesperson said the intersection was still important and the state government was considering its options to improve it.
“The Sunshine Motorway, Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade project remains a priority for the Queensland Government and design work is progressing,” they said.
“Following the Australian Government’s decision to withdraw its share of the committed funding, the Department of Transport and Main Roads is actively investigating alternatives and funding options to address safety and congestion concerns at the interchange.”
Sunshine Coast News asked TMR why references to safety, congestion and priority were taken out of the letter to Ms Simpson but did not receive a direct answer.
The state government has acquired 156 properties for the interchange upgrade since 2002.
“Most were purchased via early acquisitions initiated by the property owners,” the spokesperson said.
“Properties acquired for Stage 1 of the upgrade were demolished as part of early works to prepare for main construction.
“When properties are acquired under the Early Acquisition Policy ahead of construction requirements, they may be rented to tenants at market rates until the properties are required by the project. Most properties acquired for future stages of the MRI Upgrade are currently tenanted.”
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