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General News

11 May, 2022

$11M pledge on range road issue

A $11 million commitment to undertake a preliminary evaluation and business case on upgrading the Kuranda Range Road has been pledged by the LNP in an effort to win over voters in the Kennedy and Leichhardt electorates for the 21 May poll.


Kuranda Range Road
Kuranda Range Road

A $11 million commitment to undertake a preliminary evaluation and business case on upgrading the Kuranda Range Road has been pledged by the LNP in an effort to win over voters in the Kennedy and Leichhardt electorates for the 21 May poll. 

The business case will seek to address critical long-term safety and capacity issues as well as an assessment of possible alternative routes including the Reddicliffe Highway proposal which Member for Leichardt Warren Entsch has already indicated is the best alternative on the table. 

Progression of the business case is contingent on the Queensland Government matching the funding commitment, announced on Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said the Kuranda Range Road was a critical link for commuter, commercial and visitor traffic in Tropical North Queensland and it was important to explore options to improve the road.

 “This road underpins the commercial viability of primary industries, producers and exporters in the region in providing access to markets through the Cairns air and seaports, and road links to southern markets,” he said. 

Mr Entsch said the community was demanding a solution to the issues regarding the Kuranda Range and this was the first step towards identifying viable longterm solutions. “This can can’t be kicked down the road any longer,” Mr Entsch said. “Let’s get the business case done, identify the options and long-term solutions, get them costed and get on with the job of delivering.” 

LNP candidate for Kennedy Bryce Macdonald said he was pleased to be part of an LNP team in Far North Queensland that was providing the leadership and resources to find a solution to the long running Kuranda Range Road problem. “The Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed dismally to demonstrate any leadership when it comes to the Kuranda Range Road, so the Federal Coalition Government now has to step in to progress a solution for Far North Queenslanders,” he said. “We need this merit-based evaluation and business case process to happen now, because the ‘glossy brochure’ released earlier this year by the Palaszczuk Labor Government, which proposed to do nothing for 30 years, was a disgrace.” 

The Coalition Government is contributing $28 million for the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) stations on the Kuranda Range Road. The ITS stations will complement the existing variable message signs and reduce the number and duration of road closures. 

The ITS treatments will also enable Transport and Main Roads to rapidly detect and manage incidents on Kuranda Range Road.

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