George Christensen (Dawson, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

This morning, I issued a call for North Queenslanders to suggest a new name for a new bridge that has just been completed on the Bruce Highway. The 120 metre long bridge is part of flood-proofing works at Yellow Gin Creek—just to the south of Home Hill in the Burdekin. This is one of several projects in my electorate funded in the Liberal National government's $6.7 billion program over 10 years to fix the Bruce Highway.

Last year saw the completion of a highway upgrade between Sandy Corner and Collinson's Lagoon, just to the north of Ayr. Further south, the $565 million stage 1 of the Mackay Ring Road is now under way. It will include 14 bridges, including a major crossing of the Pioneer River. Our commitment of $412 million to replace the Haughton River Bridge in the Burdekin is in also in pre-construction planning and design. Three weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of turning the first sod on the $57 million project to replace the Sandy Gully bridge near Bowen.

While overtaking lanes at Alligator Creek were completed in July, more are currently under construction at Dingo and Emu Creek south of Bowen, at Thomsetts Road south of Proserpine, at Kitty Creek near Kuttabul and Carey's Creek near Calen. And there are more on the way, including at the fantastically-named Bannister's Bog and Didgeridoo Lagoon. I am sure the locals will come up with some equally entertaining names for the new bridge in the Burdekin. And I look forward to seeing some local creativity.

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