GOVERNMENTS MUST CONSIDER ALL OPTIONS FOR CAIRNS SOUTHERN ROAD CORRIDOR

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The Federal Opposition is calling on the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments to further investigate the proposals for the Southern Road Corridor into Cairns.

North Queensland based Liberal Senator and Opposition Spokesman on Northern and Remote Australia, Senator Ian Macdonald, said that the State and Federal governments must fully investigate all options for road and rail access south of Cairns.

“As I understand it the current proposal of the State and Federal Labor Governments is to further expand the Bruce Highway south of Cairns as it passes through the suburbs of Edmonton and Woree, but not to consider a second separate road corridor.

“Following the residential and commercial growth that has occurred along the existing corridor, delays, lane closures and accidents are becoming more frequent and are proving to be a significant disruption to those living and working in the Southern suburbs of Cairns.

“It is clear that there needs to be a major upgrade to the southern road access to Cairns although the current proposal, to further expand the Bruce Highway, seems to be less than perfect.

“The massive resumptions of homes and businesses, to facilitate what can only be seen as a band-aid solution to a major planning issue, will be hugely detrimental for thousands of people living in Southern Cairns.

“I am aware of a proposal which creates a second road corridor into Cairns, which would reduce travel times, ease congestion and create a second all weather southern access point to the city.

“This Far Eastern Corridor, which runs from Gordonvale through the East Trinity inlet almost to the centre of the city, appears on the surface to have significant merit.

“Both levels of Government have a responsibility to conduct a thorough feasibility study into proposals like the Far Eastern Corridor and cannot, in good conscience, commit to resuming hundreds of homes and businesses until such studies have been done.

Senator Macdonald yesterday toured the various alternative routes with members of the Southern Corridor Action Group.

END

13 January 2010

Media contact Gordon Terry      (07) 4771 3066   or   0427 960 255                                           

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