Over the last 8 weeks the Member for Beaudesert, Aidan McLindon MP, and I have been putting the pressure on the State Government over their abject failure to spend millions of dollars of Federal Government stimulus funding on upgrading the Beaudesert to Acacia Ridge rail line.

A previous story can be found here

Over the last year Aidan McLindon tackled the issue in State Parliament and pushed the issue in the media, trying to get the State Government to see sense in bringing passenger rail to our local community.

People were initially happy to learn that funding was finally set aside for the upgrading of the Beaudesert-Acacia Ridge rail line in 2008 which would have allowed passenger rail to be connected to the local community.

It came as no shock to resident though that the State Government squandered the opportunity to spend the $56 million, instead choosing to fight with their Labor mates for 10 months over who should control the rail corridor.

The rail up-grade was due to start in December last year, but has been delayed up until recently.

It was important for the LNP to put intense pressure on the Minister, Rachel Nolan, and local Labor MP’s such as John Mickel, to deliver on infrastructure for our community.

At first Ms Nolan wasn’t aware of the issue, as she is renowned for not being across her portfolio. However after intense pressure from the LNP she soon learned that local passion for better public transport would soon become an election issue.

Read a recent news update here

There is no doubt that without local activism and intense scrutiny of Government waste, this rail project would not have started. At first the Minister wouldn’t even answer questions, but after many weeks of lobbying, work has finally started on this important project for our community.

There are many other projects in Wright such as the Warrego Highway upgrade that needs an equal level of enthusiastic lobbying.