RURAL REPORT
Additional Road Funding for Cassowary Coast
MEMBER for Hill Shane Knuth has warmly welcomed much needed additional road funding in his electorate. "It is not only a safety priority, but it is a result of years of raising these problems in parliament and constant lobbying from constitutes about the shocking state of our roads," he said. Mr Knuth said he welcomes the $2.7M upgrade to the troublesome section of the Innisfail Japoon Rd, $7M to the Boogan Rd and the $3M to the Palmerton Highway, near the Henrietta Creek section. He also thanked the Main Roads minister for giving attention to the Hill Electorate which includes previously announced funding of $6M for the notorious East Feluga intersection and $24.9million for the 90km section on the Bruce Highway at Cowley. Mr Knuth pointed out that this was successful due to constitutes constantly lobbying for the need to fix these roads. However, more work needs to be done on the Bruce Highway from Tully to Gordonvale and the Japoon to Silkwood road, which could create local jobs and safety to road users. Mr Knuth had previously led a campaign to ensure that local contractors are given an opportunity to construct our roads as they know the region and are conscious of weather conditions. "In the past, we have seen roads fall to pieces just a few short months after they have been upgraded by southern and Western Australia contractors who have no idea about the Far North's forever changing conditions," he said. He pointed out the melting tar incident on Millaa Millaa Malanda Rd where even some semi-trailers and vehicles were bogged down in tar. The Palmerston Highway, linking Innisfail with the Tablelands has for years been dubbed ‘pothole city’. Motorists and truck drivers have constantly called for the government and Transport and Main Roads to find a permanent solution to the never-ending holes that appear after the smallest amount of rain. This has spurred Member for Hill Shane Knuth to be-
come a strong advocate for the highway even long before it became a part of his electorate. Mr Knuth said he had been on Main Roads and the Ministers back since way before he inherited the southern section of the Palmeston Highway which took in the notorious section of road between Henrietta Creek and Gooligan Creek. Back in 2017, while it was outside his electorate, Mr Knuth was aware of the complaints and lobbied and secured $3M in funding for the Henrietta Creek section to be upgraded but sadly just four months later it all fell to pieces. After many complaints from constitutes recently, Mr Knuth was back out on the highway to point out to Main Roads, the seriousness of the problem. Now he is rejoicing that work is being carried out to fix the potholes and further rehabilitation works will be undertaken in the Henrietta to Gooligan Creek section but he said a more permanent solution, like the road south of Gooligan Creek to Crawford’s Lookout, was needed. “While we are thankful that works are in the planning, now we want to see the same high standard of work undertaken like the Gooligan Creek to the Crawford’s Lookout,” he said. “The last thing road users want to see are maintenance crews back out there four months later.” Mr Knuth was advised by TMR district director Ross Hodgman that crews attended the area on June 1 to install warning signage. “Due to the recent heavy rainfall our crews are attending to road maintenance in a number of areas,” MR Hodgman said. “TMR will commence a rehabilitation project at Henrietta Creek in August 2020 with works expected to be complete by March 2021, weather permitting. “We are also progressing a rehabilitation on the Palmerston Highway at Belvedere near Shaw’s Hill.” He said TMR was also investigating options to improve safety at the intersection of Palmerston Highway and Henderson Drive to allow safe B-Double turning movements at
the intersection. “We will continue to ensure regular maintenance works and emergent repairs are carried out in a timely manner with safety works taking priority,” he said. “Any further works on the Palmerston Highway will be prioritised against other important projects across the state.” Member for Hill Shane Knuth has warmly welcomed the road funding in his electorate. "It is not only a safety priority, but it is a result of years of raising these problems in parliament and constant lobbying from constitutes about the shocking state of our roads," he said. Mr Knuth said he welcomes the $2.7M upgrade to the troublesome section of the Innisfail Japoon Rd, $7M to the Boogan Rd and the $3M to the Palmerton Highway, near the Henrietta Creek section. He also thanked the Main Roads minister for giving attention to the Hill Electorate which includes previously announced funding of $6M for the notorious East Feluga intersection and $24.9million for the 90km section on the Bruce Highway at Cowley. Mr Knuth pointed out that this was successful due to constitutes constantly lobbying for the need to fix these roads. However, more work needs to be done on the Bruce Highway from Tully to Gordonvale and the Japoon to Silkwood road, which could create local jobs and safety to road users. Mr Knuth had previously led a campaign to ensure that local contractors are given an opportunity to construct our roads as they know the region and are conscious of weather conditions. "In the past, we have seen roads fall to pieces just a few short months after they have been upgraded by southern and Western Australia contractors who have no idea about the Far North's forever changing conditions," he said. He pointed out the melting tar incident on Millaa Millaa Malanda Rd where even some semi-trailers and vehicles were bogged down in tar.
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Member for Hill Shane Knuth inspecting potholes on the Palmerston Highway near Gooligan Creek picnic area.
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TULLY Ph 4068 1002 • INNISFAIL PH 4061 1066 Cassowary Coast Independent News, Thursday, June 11, 2020 Page 15
