{"id":217126,"date":"2018-09-03T21:49:41","date_gmt":"2018-09-03T11:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=217126"},"modified":"2020-07-28T12:11:06","modified_gmt":"2020-07-28T02:11:06","slug":"councils-back-push-for-road-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2018\/09\/03\/councils-back-push-for-road-upgrades\/","title":{"rendered":"Councils Back Push For Road Upgrades"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mundubbera to Jandowae Roads Working Group chair Georgie Somerset and BIEDO CEO Kristy Frahm present the petition to Transport Minister Mark Bailey (Photo: BIEDO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 3, 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Mundubbera to Jandowae Roads Working Group – a lobby group formed to push for critical road improvements – has received support from local councils in its campaign to have a major transport route in the western South Burnett upgraded.<\/p>\n

The Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils (WBBROC), which consists of the South Burnett and five other councils, has agreed to throw its political weight behind a push to replace the John Peterson Bridge (North Burnett) and widen a single-lane section of the Mundubbera-Durong Road (South Burnett).<\/p>\n

Roads Working Group chair Georgie Somerset said the political endorsement was an important step towards getting funding commitments for the projects.<\/p>\n

It followed a delegation by the Working Group to State Transport Minister Mark Bailey on August 22.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr Bailey was presented with a petition carrying more than 2000 signatures seeking immediate improvements to Mundubbera-Durong Road and Chinchilla-Wondai Road.<\/p>\n

The petition was co-ordinated by Peter Seiler, from Darr Creek Oasis Rural Supplies & Fuel Station.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really feels like we are starting to get some traction with regional endorsement and acknowledgement of the work of the Roads Working Group from the State Minister,\u201d Mrs Somerset said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust in the Burnett region alone, tonnes of cattle, pigs, grain, fruit and nuts are transported on a daily basis on these roads from Central Queensland to the Darling Downs, in and out of
\nfeedlots, piggeries and processing plants.”<\/p>\n

The Working Group has also met with Federal Member for Flynn Ken O\u2019Dowd who is lobbying the Federal Government for funding to upgrade John Peterson bridge.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe now have support and acknowledgment from all three levels of government about the importance of improving these connection roads and replacing the bridge,\u201d Mrs Somerset said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrent scoping and costings are almost complete and we will then call on State and Federal governments to prioritise funding and construction.\u201d<\/p>\n

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