The re-established Bruce Highway Advisory Council (BHAC) has met for the first time in Townsville, Queensland, as part of the State Government’s commitment to bringing the Bruce Highway up to safety standards.
The council’s first meeting was held this week on Wednesday 18 December.
With road safety, capacity, flood resilience, investment priorities and sequencing of key upgrades being key focuses, Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Brent Mickelberg, is now calling on funding for the Bruce Highway.
“I’m taking the fight up with the Federal Government to reinstate 80:20 funding for the national highway,” he said.
“It’s only fair for Queenslanders to receive the same kind of investment on their roads as other states.
“The Bruce Highway Advisory Council is a very important part of my portfolio and as Chair, I am committed to ensuring everyone at the table has a voice as we collectively identify priority locations to improve road safety.”
The BHAC brings together a group of diverse stakeholders including industry experts, peak bodies and regional representatives.
The six regional representatives – selected following an expressions of interest process last month – have varied backgrounds including civil construction, heavy vehicle and transport operators, small business owners and road safety advocates.
Mickelberg said regional input was valued and necessary to prioritise investment on the Bruce Highway.
“The Bruce Highway is the spine of Queensland’s road network and needs continued investment, which is why the Crisafulli Government has re-established the Bruce Highway Advisory Council to understand from road users the real issues,” he said.
“We made a promise to Queenslanders that the BHAC would meet before Christmas, and here we are today with peak bodies and six regional representatives in Townsville to discuss the current problems along the Bruce Highway and where investment should be prioritised.
“It was essential to me to have regional representatives as part of the Council as their background and life experience are going to provide valuable insights to life on the Bruce.”
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