Arthur Gorrie
The state government decision to upgrade the oft-troubled Bayside Rd- Tin Can Bay Rd intersection with a one-lane roundabout, at a cost expected to reach an estimated $2.8 milliion, may have been a significant victory for community action and advocacy.
But no-one knows still when the now confirmed upgrade will actually be carried out.
Nevertheless, it is all a big improvement on the situation in July 2021, when Transport Department officials advised a roundabout “should be considered as an upgrade option,” but there was no money, possibly until well into 2023.
There was, at that stage, “currently no funding to upgrade this intersection.”
That was followed by a parliamentary Question on Notice in November 2021, from Gympie MP Tony Perrett, to which the department responded that “Planning for a potential upgrade is currently underway.”
Then came another Question on Notice on 21 June last year, with a response that “preliminary planning is being undertaken.”
“Funding is yet to be confirmed for the detailed design and construction of this project, which will be considered against other high-priority projects competing for funding across Queensland,” the department said.
Then came a petition, which attracted a total of 1164 paper and e-petition signatures.
The upgrade, expected to take the form of a roundabout, has an early-stage green light, but nothing is known yet about the timeline for the job, despite an official request for drivers to be patient during the work.
Mr Perrett’ latest Question on Notice, due to be answered within a fortnight, on 22 June, seeks that timeline.