Today the region’s Mayors issued a plea to the future Queensland Government: Work with us to connect the region’s major corridors to support the needs of a growing South East Queensland (SEQ).
Speaking at today’s announcement of the Council of Mayors’ (SEQ) 2017/18 State Advocacy Priorities, the SEQ Mayors outlined the region’s top ten most critical infrastructure projects and urged the major parties to put regional connectivity as the highest priority in the upcoming election.
Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair Cr Graham Quirk said having the ability to keep commuters, businesses and freight moving efficiently across SEQ was the key to the sustainable growth of the region’s population and economy.
“Seventy-one percent of Queensland’s population is based in SEQ. The needs and opportunities that this region presents to the next State Government should be carefully considered by all major parties at election time.
“The commuters and businesses of SEQ have been waiting a long time to have major corridors and transport networks that can keep up with the growth of this region and its economy. Now is the time to make SEQ’s people and freight movement a priority,” said Cr Quirk.
SEQ’s top ten most critical infrastructure projects are:
- Brisbane Metro
- Brisbane Valley Highway Upgrade
- Bruce Highway Upgrades – Pine River to Nambour
- Cunningham Highway (Yamanto to Willowbank)
- Eastern Busway to Capalaba
- M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrades
- Mt Lindesay Highway Upgrade (Business Case)
- Manly to Cleveland Rail Duplication
- North Coast Rail Line between Beerburrum and Nambour
- Toowoomba to Rosewood Passenger Bus / Rail Service (Business Case)
The Council of Mayors (SEQ) will also be calling on the future State Government to establish a statutory governance authority to protect the region’s catchments and waterways, as well as a clear commitment to work collaboratively to position SEQ as a destination for global trade and investment.