Highway route “doesn’t add up”

Confusion, concern and questions remain after part – but not all - of the new Moreton Motorway corridor was unveiled.

It leaves the northern end of the 50km Bruce Highway Western Alternative (aka Moreton Motorway) “going nowhere”, Elimbah resident Kim Litchfield said.

“We have a bit of information and a whole lot of confusion,” she said. “We’ve been asking questions and really struggling to get clear answers. It doesn’t add up.”

Transport and Main Roads (TMR) says stage four of the motorway “will proceed between Twin View Rd at Elimbah and the D’Aguilar Highway at Moodlu”.

Which surprised residents as for more than two years plans have shown stage four linking with Steve Irwin Way near Beerburrum.

TMR said the Moodlu-Elimbah corridor is being “protected” but has not explained why stage four currently finishes at Twin View Rd or if an additional stage is planned.

Following “community, stakeholder feedback and detailed technical investigations” the route was chosen “further west to avoid rural residential areas and reduce property impacts”.

A TMR spokesperson added: “Protecting this corridor gives certainty to landowners and the wider community.” “Direct engagement” is underway with 24 affected landowners.

Moreton Bay City Council also had no explanation about the motorway route north of Twin View Rd.

A spokesperson said Council “continues to work constructively with the State on concerns about the proposed route that will impact industrial, housing and employment land”.

“Council is calling on Federal and State Governments to fund and commit to the expedited delivery of the Bruce Highway Western Alternative by 2032, currently estimated for 2041.”

Kim Litchfield says resident are left with “a bit of information and a whole lot of confusion”.

“They have only protected about two-thirds of the route which has left the end of that motorway going now where,” she said.

“The end of a motorway has to go somewhere, either another stage coming off it or it’s Council’s responsibility to connect up via arterial roads and main roads.

“It’s very sad. Some are angry. People on the protection line will lose their properties. It’s devastating to them.

“If someone is going to lose their home, or property, or business and farm for a highway it damn well better be something that’s going to work.”

On the Objection to Current Bruce Highway Alternative – Stage 4 route option Facebook page Jason Smith, a leading figure in the campaign, sought answers.

“If the scope has changed, which it clearly has, why has that not been brought to the community for feedback?” Mr Smith said.

He said Stage 4 has changed from a “north-south corridor between Brisbane and Steve Irwin Way” to “facilitating the movement of people between the Elimbah Development Area, Waraba, and Brisbane”.

“Termination of the current project at Twin View Road appears to establish a fixed starting point for any future project,” Mr Smith wrote.

“This continues to pose a potential risk to properties and stakeholders that were impacted by the originally proposed route.”

Steven Hutchison said: “The real story isn’t just residents being upset. It’s why the highway through Elimbah is being pushed in the first place and who benefits from it.”

Michael McDonald added: “My guess is that it has something to do with that $2.6 billion dollar theme park planned.”