July 3, 2015
The Department of Transport and Main Roads has knocked back a bid to rename a section of the D’Aguilar Highway at Blackbutt as “Roy Emerson Way”.
An e-petition, lodged with the State Government by Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington on behalf of Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association, attracted 177 signatures.
A hard-copy petition organised by the Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association brought the total number of signatories to 585.
The petition requested that the section of the highway between Kevin Allery Bridge in Blackbutt and the north side of the Nukku Bridge be renamed in honour of the international tennis star who grew up at Nukku.
The Blackbutt and District Tourism and Heritage Association has created a museum exhibit honouring Emerson inside Nukku Nook at Blackbutt.
They had hoped that the 2011 renaming of an 85km section of the Warrego Highway as “Darren Lockyer Way” would have set a precedent for the Blackbutt honour.
However, Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey wrote to petitioners today saying that Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) signage policy did not “generally allow the renaming of sections of road, due to possible impacts on residential mailing addresses and the potential for confusing the travelling public”.
Mr Bailey said that of particular concern was ensuring that emergency services and travellers who are unfamiliar with the local area could clearly identify and find locations.
“I am therefore advised that TMR would only consider renaming a road in extraordinary circumstances and where the above issues have been satisfactorily addressed, through consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the local government, community, local businesses, emergency services, post and courier services,” he said.
“On that basis, the proposed renaming of this section of the D’Aguilar Highway is not currently supported.”
However, Mr Bailey has detailed an alternative suggestion: a “Welcome To Blackbutt” sign which would include the words “Home of Roy Emerson” as well as a directional sign to the tourist information centre.
“I understand that this option will be discussed by the (Blackbutt and District Tourism Association) Committee at their next meeting and that TMR will therefore soon be advised of the Committee’s response to the sign proposal,” Mr Bailey said.
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