REDLANDS MP Matt McEachan has attacked Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, saying he ignored locals seeking a meeting over dangerous Redlands roads.
Mr McEachan said he brought Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams and Victoria Point resident Rebecca Griffiths to Parliament House in March to discuss urgent safety concerns with Mr Bailey, including the dangerous Anita Street and Giles Road intersections at Redland Bay.
“The minister promised a face-to-face meeting, yet promptly refused to attend on the day,’’ Mr McEachan said. “Instead, government advisors were sent and further requests for a meeting with the minister were refused.’’
Mr Bailey said that as a minister, his schedule sometimes changed at the last minute.
“This is often unavoidable which was the case for my scheduled meeting with Mr McEachan and Mayor Karen Williams,’’ he said.
“I asked my senior advisor and senior departmental staff to meet with Mr McEachan and Mayor Williams in my absence and report back to me about their concerns.
“My department is currently investigating the issues they have raised. Mr McEachan should stop playing politics.’’
Mr McEachan said Redlanders seeking to voice their concerns include Redland Bay local Paul Hymas, whose family uses the Anita Street intersection on a daily basis and Rebecca Griffiths, whose children saw a fatal accident at Giles Road in February.
“Minister Bailey has ignored local parents and has refused to listen to genuine concerns for the safety of our children,’’ he said.
“I have regularly spoken with Redlands locals and echo their concerns over these roads which are in need of an urgent upgrade.’’
Mr Bailey said Mr McEachan’s LNP did nothing for the Redlands during three years in government with a record majority.
“Under the Palaszczuk Government, the intersection of Cleveland Redland Bay and Giles Road will see significant safety and capacity upgrades,’’ he said.
The Government would spend $3 million on improvements in addition to capacity upgrades by a large local development which would be completed in June next year.
As part of its development conditions, Shoreline was required to upgrade the Giles Road intersection and other sites.
“This is a big win for the local community, not only will this upgrade accommodate the additional traffic generated by the new development, it will greatly improve safety for pedestrians and motorists,’’ he said.
Mr McEachan said the upgrade was announced last year and had gone no further than the design stage.
