The Queensland State Government has admitted the D'Aguilar Highway is dangerous. It has opted to reduce the speed limits in places instead of upgrading it, a move expected to exacerbate driver and community frustration.
Glass House LNP State Member, Andrew Powell, welcomed the news and said he "couldn't be happier" that a recent review of the D'Aguilar Highway will result in changes to the speed limit.
"Many locals will welcome the speed reduction to 90km per hour from Wamuran to the D'Aguilar township," Mr Powell said in a statement.
"It really couldn't come soon enough. The community has been crying out for the Government to start taking action on this Highway for years.
"This good news does of course bring with it some disappointment. The fact that the speed limit at the entrance to Rangeview Estate will not be changed is a blow to those residents.
"I have long campaigned the Government to drop the speed in this section of the D'Aguilar Highway so to have this ignored in the review is a bit of a slap in the face to these residents. Let's hope this decision doesn't come back to haunt them.
In State Parliament only weeks ago, Mr Powell conceded reducing the limits is not a "sustainable" solution.
"There is a very real concern, and I am happy to name it, that doing so will only serve to amplify the frustration of some drivers," Mr Powell said in Parliament.
Key benefits to upgrading the D'Aguilar Highway (dual carriage-way) between the Bruce Highway and Kilcoy include:
-Lives saved.
-Infrastructure that can handle future growth.
-Economic injection into the local economies.
-The trip becomes much more efficient in time and fuel.
-Events including the Woodford Folk Festival and Splendour In The Grass will have less impact on day to day commuters.
The D'Aguilar Highway Kills Group have long advocated: When highways are designed, built and maintained, it is for the purpose of vehicles with human drivers. Humans make mistakes, but a highway built and maintained to best practices protects life. One example is a driver having a heart attack and losing control of the vehicle. A dual carriage-way with a centre barrier makes it almost impossible for that vehicle to enter onto the wrong side of the road potentially having a head-on with another vehicle and doubling the energy of impact.
Mr Powell's current petition calls for the highway to be widened, a provision for slip lanes, more overtaking opportunities, traffic calming options and parking bays for trucks accessing businesses in Wamuran and Woodford.
The E-Petition can be accessed by visiting www.parliament.qld.gov.au, click on Legislative Assembly, Petitions, Current E-Petitions or by clicking on the following link - http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=1773. Paper copies of the petition can also be requested by phoning Mr Powell's office on 5435 2013.
*Andrew McCarthy-Wood is a member of The D'Aguilar Highway Kills Group.
