Media Release

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has welcomed today’s announcement of $10.5m of Federal funding for two Kennedy Highway projects – to replace the flood-prone, single lane Nettle Creek Bridge; and to widen a dangerous Millstream section.

The Minister’s office has advised that, following further investigations and detailed designs, construction was likely to begin next year and be completed in 2014 for:

• the long awaited upgrade to the low level, single lane timber bridge at Nettle Creek (which is subject to load limits and vulnerable to flooding) to increase flood immunity to a one in 20 year level, and minimise closure times in the event of a one in 50 year level flood.
• A new concrete bridge will also boost freight capacity by accommodating larger road trains; andthe widening and strengthening of the highway near Millstream to reduce the risk of accidents between motorists and heavy vehicles.

But Mr Katter – who has long advocated for a proper alternative inland highway – said about $65m was necessary to make an inland route a safe and viable alternative for local motorists and our agricultural and tourism industries.

Today’s funding announcement follows a Question Without Notice to Minister Albanese in Parliament last year, in which Mr Katter told the Minister that regular Bruce Highway closures, coupled with the lack of a proper inland alternative, left "myriad crops at risk"; while "tourism, mining and cattle fare even worse".

"The Bruce Highway is nothing more than a service road. It wasn’t developed to be a main highway and shouldn’t be operating as such, but it’s the only way we can operate unless another inland highway is built," he said.

Mr Katter said motorist safety and industry productivity would benefit greatly from a two lane route between the Tablelands and Flinders Highway (at Charters Towers).

"At the moment, it’s terribly dangerous in those single lane sections, when you’ve got tourists carting caravans or oncoming cattle trains."