THE Federal Coalition has promised $24 million to complete the Mount Lindesay Road upgrade between Legume and Woodenbong if re-elected next month.
Southern Downs Regional Council mayor Tracy Dobie and her Tenterfield counterpart Cr Peter Petty welcomed the announcement made by Deputy Prime Minister and New England MP Barnaby Joyce, NSW Minister for Roads and Freight Duncan Gay and NSW Lismore MP Thomas George.
“Significant work has already been undertaken by the council on the Mt Lindesay Road particularly over the past five years to try and improve safety and to realign, reconstruct and renew the narrow and windy road,” Cr Petty said.
“The successful completion of this major project was always going to need the support of all three tiers of government” Cr Petty said.
“And now thanks to the commitment of the Federal and State governments we have the remaining funding to deliver it.”
Cr Dobie agreed, believing the upgrade was critically important to the region.
“This is great news for our cross-border communities, and the broader QLD/NSW regions,” she said.
“Funding of this magnitude, with matched commitments of $12 million each from the Federal and NSW governments, is recognition of the critical importance of the upgrade of the Legume to Woodenbong section of Mt Lindesay Road to the communities of Southern Downs and Northern Rivers.
“I congratulate the Legume to Woodenbong Road Alliance for their continued lobbying of State and Federal governments for funding. It looks like it has finally paid off,” Cr Dobie said.
Southern Downs councillor and Legume to Woodenbong Road Alliance chairman Neil Meiklejohn also welcomed the funding commitment.
“This is fantastic news, and the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, in his role as the Member for New England, has delivered on his promise in the last election that the funding of Mt Lindesay Road was one of his two highest priorities for his electorate.
“This commitment should see the major upgrade and maintenance of the Legume to Woodenbong section completed in the coming years, and will provide enormous benefits for transport and freight businesses, the expansion of tourism and, critically, it will provide a road that meets the standards for heavy transport and the travelling public,” he said.
Cr Petty said the road was a vital link for local residents as well as the increasing volume of industry and tourists who use this road as the connector from South East Queensland down to the Tenterfield Shire and Northern Rivers region.
Additional safety upgrades will begin in the upcoming financial year. It will include road deviation at Koreelah Creek, including road widening and bridge construction, road re-alignment, widening, construction and sealing at various sections and road rehabilitation including drainage improvements.
Today’s announcement follows the recent communique issued by the Alliance to Mr Joyce seeking urgent funding of $24 million for the project.
“I believe today’s announcement can be attributed to the excellent co-operation and collaboration of governments both sides of the border and at all levels. It demonstrates the strength in partnerships, particularly like the Alliance and that of the Southern Downs and Tenterfield Shire councils which work closely together on cross-border issues,” Cr Meiklejohn said.
The Legume to Woodenbong Road Alliance comprises representatives from New South Wales and Queensland local government authorities including Kyogle Shire Council, Lismore City Council, Richmond Valley Council, Southern Downs Regional Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council and Tenterfield Shire Council.
