The Budget and Moggill
Thursday, 18 June 2009 17:29
A number of budget allocations have been made within the local area which may be of interest to Moggill residents.
$2.77 million has been allocated for the construction of a replacement fire station at Pullenvale. This issue has been highly contentious for local residents because it involves the closure of the Kenmore Fire Station.
The Government has been seeking a replacement for the Kenmore Station and to improve fire response times in the Moggill/Bellbowrie area. However, moving the Fire Station away from the population centre of Kenmore and Chapel Hill will result in slower fire response times and the possibility that fire response might be impeded by traffic conditions at certain times of the day. This was particularly highlighted during recent floods when the site of the new fire station was cut off from Kenmore and Chapel Hill by flooding around Moggill creek.
In relation to this item I have made my view clear to the Government that our preferred solution is for a combined fire and ambulance station (an emergency services centre) in the Moggill/Bellbowrie area in addition to the Kenmore facilities. Population growth, distance and road conditions combined with appalling ambulance response times that at times of emergency endanger the life of local residents are compelling reasons for putting on additional emergency services. However at this stage it appears the Government is intent in pursuing the relocation of the Kenmore Station to Pullenvale.
Moggill State School and the Moggill community are to receive a multi-purpose hall. This is a project that I have strongly advocated for over a number of years. It has only come about because of the availability of Federal funding. A smaller State allocation still appears in the budget papers although it is unclear as to whether this money will remain available to the Moggill State School AND the Moggill community. I have written to the Minister to request clarification on this point.
The budget also somewhat surprisingly contains part of a $3.5Million allocation for the acquisition of land for the purposes of quarry haulage. It is unclear how much of this money is going to the Kholo quarry and how much is going to other projects. This allocation is of course a two-edge sword. No-one in the local area wants to see the establishment of a hard-rock quarry at Kholo Creek and the resultant haulage road through the beautiful surrounding areas. However for property owners who have their property earmarked for this haulage route, their property has become unsaleable and an allocation of funds particularly under present economic conditions may be a godsend to some of those families to be able to sell their property which otherwise would not be able to be sold on the market. This does not mean there is at this point in time any intention of establishing the quarry and sadly the uncertainty over this project continues for local residents. It is unlikely that in the current building environment there is strong appetite for the establishment of the new quarry but quite frankly no-one seems to know what’s going on with this one.
$2 million has been allocated to complete concept planning for the Kenmore Bypass. Again I would emphasise that the Kenmore Bypass Study Group has not made a recommendation either for or against the Kenmore Bypass and this recommendation is expected to be made over the next couple of months. It is interesting that the government has announced this additional funding without any public indication of what that recommendation might be. Also I would emphasise that NO details have been given in the budget in relation to the Kenmore Bypass – what is happening with the study or what the recommendation is likely to be – simply a statement by the Government that these additional funds are necessary to complete the concept planning. In particular local residents and myself have expressed concern about the possible closure of Gem Road. It would be a much better outcome for Gem Road to remain open. That is the submission I’ve made and I’m sure the one that is supported by the local community. It appears we’re going to have to wait for more information.
Money for the signalisation and pedestrian crossing at Birkin Road, signalisation and pedestrian crossing at Grandview Road and any additional funds for park and rides in the Pullenvale or Moggill/Bellbowrie area are conspicuous absences.
Further detail will be known when the Main Roads Department’s program is released. This is released separately to the budget.
It has been indicated to me that the signalisation and pedestrian crossing at Birkin Road will be funded through the Safer Roads Sooner Programme.