Campaign points to need for ring road jobs Now

MARCH 10, 2016: DUE to the positive response to my pointed campaign for action on the Mackay Ring Road, I'm extending the cut-off date to return signed petitions.This petition urges the State Labor Government to throw more resources into the design phase of the Mackay Ring Road, so that work on the massive job-creating project can get under way.We desperately need jobs in the Mackay region right now, and the construction of the Mackay Ring Road will create 600 jobs.The majority of this project is federally funded, and the federal Liberal National government agreed to fast track the funding so we could get this project to construction stage sooner.But we’re still waiting on the State Labor government who are saying we won’t be building it until next year.It’s not like they’ve just found out about this project and have had to start from scratch; they’ve actually been working on the planning and design since 2010.The advice I have received is that it should not take this long.I’m sending a very blunt message to the Premier that enough is enough; we need to get this project happening.Petition forms will again be inserted into the Daily Mercury next Friday, and residents have until the end of the month (March 31) to return signed forms to my office.If you’re keen to see the jobs flow during the construction of the $565 million Mackay Ring Road Stage 1, join with me in this campaign by getting those forms in.