There appears to be a breakthrough in the long-running saga of Beckmans Road, otherwise known as the Tewantin Bypass.
Mayor Tony Wellington said thanks to effective lobbying by Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton along with Council real progress is happening.
"Sandy has announced the State's intention to allocate funds to the design of a new roundabout where the Cooroy-Noosa Road meets Beckmans Road." Cr wellington said.
The Department of Main Roads has now informed me that they will be going even further to meet the commitment dating back to 2000,
"Under an agreement with the State Government, signed back in 2000, Noosa Council agreed to take control of certain State owned roads and also construct new roads in return for the State building us a Tewantin Bypass alongside Beckmans Rd," Mayor Tony Wellington said.
"We fulfilled our side of the agreement by taking over David Low Way and sections of other feeder roads, as well as constructing Walter Hay Drive and Eenie Creek Road. The State has had almost 20 years to meet their side of the bargain, but have consistently failed to do so."
Cr Wellington said the Minister's office has committed to seeking funds for two key projects in the 2020 State Budget.
"Minister Mark Bailey's office has told me that two funding submissions will be lodged as part of the State's Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) in the 2020 State Budget.
"The first will be funding of $12 million to actually construct the aforesaid Cooroy-Noosa Road and Beckmans Road roundabout. This notorious intersection has been the scene of too many crashes, and it is certainly a priority as far as safety is concerned."
"The other proposal will be for funding to finally complete the design works for the rest of the Tewantin Bypass.
"This will result in either a total upgrade of Beckmans Road all the way from Cooroy-Noosa Road to the Eumundi-Noosa Road, or else it will mean a new parallel road will be constructed, leaving the existing Beckmans Road as a service road. The latter meets a long-standing understanding about the bypass, but the final designs will need to be agreed to by both Council and the State, " the Mayor said.
"Of course, there are no guarantees that these two projects will be funded come the 2020 budget, but they do have to be nominated first, so that is a major step forward.
"It's the best sign that Noosa Council has had over the past two decades that the State is finally taking its commitment to the 2000 Agreement seriously. For that I thank Minister Mark Bailey and also our wonderful local State Member, Sandy Bolton."
