The Federal Member for Fisher is being blamed for standing in the way of a solution to Caloundra’s roundabout from hell, one of the worst congestion nightmares on the Sunshine Coast.
Sunshine Coast Council and the State Government are pursuing plans for a new intersection and four-lane road linking the Nicklin Way and Caloundra CBD so motorists can bypass the time-wasting roundabout on Caloundra Road.
The roundabout is a major bottleneck in every direction at peak times and a frustrating entry point into the CBD for locals and visitors.
But the Federal member Andrew Wallace has refused to come to the party with funding and slammed the State Government for “abrogating its responsibility”.
The $37.8 million Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade needs $7 million from the Commonwealth, but Mr Wallace said he had “no plans to pursue Federal Government funding for it”.
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His comments have angered the State Transport minister Mark Bailey who has labelled the Fisher MP “Whingey Wallace” and accused him of not fighting for his constituents.
“It’s clear Mr Wallace has given up going into bat for his Sunshine Coast constituents which is bad news for local motorists,” Mr Bailey said in a statement to sunshinecoastnews.com.au.
“Instead of petty political point scoring, Whingey Wallace should work positively with us and the council to deliver federal funding for this much-needed project.
“Regretfully Whingey Wallace is following a long-term pattern of taking the Sunshine Coast for granted by the local LNP because they think they have safe seats.”
It comes after sunshinecoastnews.com.au revealed the Federal Government was refusing to chip in $20 million towards a $68 million upgrade to Sunshine Coast Stadium to install another 10,000 seats (it currently has 1406 grandstand seats).
Planning and design is underway for the 1.6km four-lane transport corridor which will connect the Caloundra CBD to Nicklin Way north of the horror Caloundra Road roundabout.
It will include a new road extension of Third Avenue from Arthur Street to Nicklin Way, as well as duplicating and upgrading local roads, installing numerous sets of new traffic lights and new footpaths and a cycleway (more detail below).
Mr Wallace said in a statement to sunshinecoastnews.com.au the project was not the Federal Government’s responsibility and the first time he had heard of it was in September 2020.
“No request was made by Minister Bailey or the State Government to me for funding for this project and it was the height of arrogance for Mr Bailey to simply assume the Federal Government would step in,” he said.
“The State Government continues to further abrogate its responsibilities by demanding money from the Federal Government for what are entirely Council and State Government responsibilities.
“This part of the road network has nothing to do with the Federal Government and as such there is currently no commitment of Commonwealth funding.”
A spokesperson for Sunshine Coast Council said construction was expected to start in 2023, subject to funding and approvals, and would include two stages.
Council will take responsibility for the $19.6 million first stage, which includes duplicating and upgrading local roads and installing new traffic lights.
Stage 2, which incorporates the Nicklin Way intersection, is a joint council and state project ($18.2 million) which needs $7 million from the federal government.
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Local councillor Terry Landsberg said the council would “continue to go in to bat” for federal funding so the project could proceed and ease the frustrating traffic gridlock.
The council estimates time wasted in traffic will cost the community $38 million a year if the road was not improved.
“The priority for us is to deliver better transport corridors on the Sunshine Coast. This is one of our major projects on the table and we feel it’s a priority,” Cr Landsberg said.
“You only have to be stuck on Caloundra Road at peak time to see why. It’s one of our major bottlenecks.
“We understand that things are extremely tight and we’d like to continue to push for Federal Government support for that route.”
State Transport minister Mark Bailey said the Department of Transport and Main Roads was currently seeking the federal contribution.
“The Federal Budget is due in May, so Mr Wallace still has time to help us convince his Canberra colleagues of the importance of this project,” he said.
“He can still yet prove to us he isn’t Whingey Wallace but he hasn’t made a good start to 2021.”
Design concept
A design concept, which the public can view here, shows how Third Avenue will be extended to Nicklin Way with new traffic lights and road upgrades along the route.
A council spokesperson said stage 1 between Omrah Avenue and Arthur Street would be delivered by the council (cost $19.6 million) and include:
- Duplicating traffic lanes in both directions (two lanes in each direction) on Oval Avenue and Third Avenue
- Connecting Oval Avenue with Omrah Avenue
- Building a separated cycle way and pedestrian pathways along the full length of the upgrade
- Upgrading intersections to traffic signals at Bowman Road/Gosling Street, First Avenue/Oval Avenue, Third Avenue/Oval Avenue, Arthur Street/Third Avenue
- Making changes to traffic movements at Nicholls Street and Second Avenue
- Installing new street lighting and landscaping
Stage 2 between Arthur Street and Nicklin Way will cost $18.2 million with the State Government providing $7 million and the council paying $4.2 million and will include:
• Extension of Third Avenue from Arthur Street to Nicklin Way including cycle and pedestrian facilities.
• Extension of Industrial Avenue to the Nicklin Way
• A new signalised intersection on Nicklin Way with pedestrian and cyclist crossings connecting the Third Avenue and Industrial Avenue extensions
Sunshine Coast Council said it would be connecting with the community during the design process “to ensure all aspects of the project are well communicated and understood”.
“Further details on traffic impacts and a construction schedule will be confirmed closer to the start of construction.”
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