STATE Government funding for the city’s key road infrastructure in the rapidly growing western corridor was back on the Ipswich City Council agenda last week.
The city’s Infrastructure, Planning and Assets Committee had recommended a motion put forward by Division 4 Councillor David Martin that the CEO write to the Department of Transport and Main Roads seeking Redbank Plains Rd, Augusta Parkway and Sinnathamby Boulevard Bridge become state-controlled infrastructure and the department become responsible for future maintenance and upgrades.
But at last week’s meeting, councillors backed down on the committee’s recommendation, voting in favour of holding a briefing session on the potential implications and outcomes of changing the assets to state-controlled roads.
Cr Martin said he would like to see a review into what it takes for a trunk road to become a state-controlled asset.
“Our population currently stands at 265,000 and our road network is already clogged,” he said.
“The State Government is putting pressure on us. We have a Priority Development Area out at Ripley and the (state’s) expectation is that community will grow to 150,000.
“Our road network is already clogged and the State Government is contributing little to our infrastructure.”
Cr Martin said the State Government should be contributing towards the cost as it was encouraging the city to increase its population.
Mayor Teresa Harding and Division 3 Councillor Marnie Doyle, who were in Canberra for the opening of Federal Parliament when the motion was discussed in committee meetings two weeks ago, supported the idea of a briefing session before the Council decided to write to the department.
Division 1 Councillors Jacob Madsen and Pye Augustine and Division 4 Councillor Jim Madden said they did not see the point in slowing the process.
A former State MP, Cr Madden said he saw no issue with the original motion.
“I can’t tell you the number of times that I have attended meetings where councillors, with council officers present, have said we would like the State Government to take back Redbank Plains Rd, as it had for many years,” he said.
