The roundabout we don’t need

SEPTEMBER 7, 2015: THE controversial Hay Point roundabout south of Mackay is a non-problem and money could be better spent elsewhere.$15 million in funding has gone to the State Labor Government for the construction of this roundabout because they identified it as a priority.I think the roundabout is unnecessary, and I tried to intervene to get this funding redirected towards more overtaking lanes; something which would have been of more benefit.Problems at the intersection had already been solved by the installation of traffic lights.I spoke to the State Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, and I also met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss about the funding of this roundabout.Minister Truss also had discussions about re-allocating the funding, but the department would not budge.The State Labor Government, through its Transport and Main Roads department, put its foot down and said the funding of this project needed to go ahead.Their reasoning is that traffic lights should not exist on highways.The Federal Government can only makes changes to a funding arrangement made under a previous government if there is agreement by both the State and Federal Governments.As the State Labor Government will not accept any change on this, our hands are tied.Considering the issues we have had at the Baker’s Creek roundabout with truck rollovers, I am concerned about a repeat of that situation at Hay Point.I have shared these concerns with TMR, and said the design and construction of the roundabout needs to be vastly different to that at Bakers Creek so that we do not have a repeat of these truck rollovers.