Need to fast-track Haughton bridge replacement

MARCH 15, 2016: THE BURDEKIN has been left out in the cold yet again by the State Labor Government due to their failure to bring forward work on the Haughton River Bridge replacement.We have had a fanfare about a State Infrastructure Plan from the Palaszczuk Government and there’s even $20,000 million for fast-tracked planning, but the Haughton River bridge replacement is not going to get a look in before 2019.The replacement of this bridge has been voted the most urgent problem to be fixed on that stretch of the Bruce Highway between Mackay and Townsville.But does that mean the State Labor Government will fast-track the long and drawn-out planning and design process to replace this unsafe bridge?Sadly no, and I’m bitterly disappointed.The State’s new Infrastructure Plan shows that most of the work on this bridge will occur beyond 2019, and the people of the Burdekin, as well as the thousands of travellers who commute along the Bruce Highway, will once again be kept waiting.I went and got a commitment from the Federal Government to fund this. The money’s been allocated and we can bring it forward.I understand these projects take time, but this is just not good enough.I mounted a petition on this issue to send a very blunt message to the Premier that enough is enough, and I am extending the cut-off date to return these.Look out for your petition in Friday’s Burdekin Advocate and return it to my office by March 31 to support my message.