Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The condition of the Koumala Range road is a tragedy waiting to happen. I urge the Queensland government to take action before the wet season begins in a few weeks. Due to the closure of the Sarina Range following Tropical Cyclone Debbie, the Koumala Range is being used as the main access for the entire community. Apart from the inconvenience and stress that the additional time is creating, use of the road is beyond its structural capacity. Heavy vehicles, shift workers, school children and workers commuting after long days are all using the narrow road, which contains many dangerous bends, is potholed where sealed, is slippery where not sealed, and has an alarming bridge crossing. Having recently driven the route myself, I believe the concerns are genuine and warranted.

At a community meeting at Serena Range on 30 July residents raised fears that, unless urgent works are undertaken before the wet season, lives will be at risk. None of the state MPs bothered to attend that public meeting. I have written to the Deputy Premier requesting urgent action, but she has not bothered to respond. Perhaps I should have mentioned the Cross River Rail. That may have caught her attention.