The Morrison Government will fund thirteen new congestion busting projects across South-East Queensland with a further $226.25 million funding boost, including $14 million for the dangerous roundabout at Rochedale Rd and Priestdale Rd in the Bonner electorate.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said this is great news for the families of Bonner who frequent the dangerous roundabout.

“Since I began my petition to fix Rochedale Priestdale Rd roundabout in January this year I’ve gathered more than 2000 signatures from locals who demand a fix for this roundabout.

“I’ve been down here many times chatting to locals during peak hour traffic and it’s an absolute nightmare of a roundabout, especially when you have five schools and a large childcare centre all within a stone’s throw of each other.”

“People are sick of sitting in traffic and more importantly parents are terrified of having to send their children to school via this horrible intersection every day.”

“This $14 million contribution from the Morrison Government that I’ve today secured will fast track a solution to this local traffic issue to help get locals home sooner and safer,” Mr Vasta said.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane City Council welcomes this commitment to fix the roundabout at Rochedale and Priestdale Rd.

“This commitment from the Federal Government will make this happen sooner. And it is a great example of different levels of government working together to deliver great positive benefits for local residents.”

Minister for Cities, Urban Infrastructure and Population Alan Tudge said these projects will help thousands of people living in South-East Queensland.”

“By managing money and running a strong economy we are able to invest record funding in road and rail projects which improve the lives of so many Queenslanders.”

“This funding will fix local traffic pinch points like Rochedale Priestdale Rd and bottle necks that have the most impact on congestion, helping everyone get home sooner.”

The projects include:

• Upgrading Rochedale Road and Priestdale Rd intersection, Rochedale
• Commuter car parking at Beenleigh Station
• Commuter car parking at Loganlea Station
• Commuter car parking at Coomera Station
• Upgrading the intersection at Oxley Drive and Brisbane Road, Arundel
• Upgrade of High Road and Easterly Street between Sabre Street and Old Logan Village Road, Waterford
• Upgrading the Henry Road-Dohles Rocks Road, Griffin
• Upgrade the Klinger Road & Boardman Road intersection, Kippa-Ring
• Upgrading Beams Road between Lacey Road to Handford Road, Bracken Ridge
• Level crossing removal at Boundary Road, Coopers Plains
• Upgrading Beaudesert-Beenleigh Road between Milne St to Tallagandra Rd, Beenleigh
• Upgrading Chambers Flat Road between Park Ridge Road to Derby Road, Park Ridge
• Upgrading the Kenmore Roundabout at Moggill Road, Kenmore

The projects will bolster the significant investment across South-East Queensland that includes an additional $500 million for the M1 between Daisy Hill and the Logan Motorway.

It also includes the recently completed Gateway Upgrade North project from Nudgee to Bracken Ridge, which would not have been possible without an $861.8 million Coalition investment.

There has also been a $112 million investment for Stage 3a of the Gold Coast Light Rail project following $95 million for Stage 2.

In February the Morrison Government pledged to work with the State Government and local Councils to develop a City Deal for the region.

These commitments are all part of the Liberal-National plan which is seeing $25 billion invested in road and rail projects across Queensland.

Investments across South East Queensland include:

• M1 Pacific Motorway Upgrade Program – $1.775 billion, including:
  • Gateway Merge – $115 million
  • Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill – $500 million
  • Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway – $500 million
  • Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes – $110 million
  • Varsity Lakes to Tugun – $500 million
• Gateway Motorway – Bracken Ridge to Pine River – $800 million
• Gateway Upgrade North – $861.8 billion
• Brisbane Metro – $300 million
• Gold Coast Light Rail Stages 2 and 3A – $207 million

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta has secured $213,631 for the Mt Gravatt Community Centre to fund its Social Isolation program Ways of Wellness project.

This funding builds on the $422,000 commitment from Ross Vasta and the Coalition Government to expand and renovate ‘Bernies Centre’.

This project is reliant on Link workers and will enable the community Centre to employ an additional Link Worker and an admin support worker to address loneliness in the Mt Gravatt and surrounding Bonner community.

Mr Vasta said this funding is important for the Mt Gravatt community Centre to enable it to continue the great work it is doing to reduce social isolation, improve community cohesion and prevent locals from experiencing the negative health impacts of loneliness.

“I’m pleased to deliver this funding for an additional Link worker and admin staff member because it means the Mt Gravatt Community Centre will be able to refer more people in the community to improve mental health outcomes, improve community well-being, reduce social exclusion, increasing self-esteem, confidence and provide community members with a sense of control and empowerment.”

“This is great news for people within Bonner, and provides additional support for those who need it most,” Mr Vasta said.

Mt Gravatt Community Centre Chief Executive Officer Deb Crompton described the social prescribing program as a way of linking patients or community members in primary care with sources of group support within the community.

“This funding from Mr Vasta gives locals greater access to this vital program which will connect them with medical professionals with non-medical referral options that can operate alongside existing treatments to address their social isolation issues.”

Mr Vasta said the Coalition’s strong economy means more funding for local community groups like the Mt Gravatt Community Centre.

“Only the Liberals and Nationals have a proven track record when it comes to managing the Budget,” Mr Vasta said.

“By paying down debt and growing the economy, we can afford to deliver funding for priorities in local communities such as Mt Gravatt Community Centre in Mount Gravatt.

“This is all at risk under Labor and Bill Shorten who pose the greatest risk to Australia’s economy in a generation with plans for $387 billion in new taxes on small and family businesses, retirees, housing, income, investments, electricity and cars.”

Mr Vasta said this year’s Federal Budget delivered Australia’s first surplus in more than a decade.

“The surplus guarantees funding for the essential services that you and your family need and rely on,” Mr Vasta said.

“This includes record funding for schools, hospitals, medicines and roads.”

The Morrison Government is backing volunteers across Australia and in Bonner with a $20 million Volunteer Grants program.

Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 to help community organisations for a range of needs, including buying equipment, paying fuel costs, training volunteers or improving their fundraising have been allocated to organisations in Bonner.

Organisations in Bonner receiving grants include;

• Carina/Carindale and District Basketball Club inc. – $5,000
• Transformative Training Mt Gravatt – $5,000
• Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club – $1,678
• Belmont Lions Club – $3,000
• Wynnum Manly Community Gardens Group – $3,972
• St Vincent De Paul St Peter’s Rochedale – $2,500
• Queensland Cyclists Assoc. Chandler – $5,000
• Wynnum Manly Tourism and Visitor Info Centre – $1,224.98
• St Vincent De Paul Manly – $3,600
• Bayside United Sports Club – $5,000
• Community Sports Mentoring and Coaching – $5,000
• ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Assoc. Upper Mt Gravatt – $5,000
• Bulimba Creek Catchment B4C – $1,000
• Mt Gravatt Community Centre – $3,600
• Genealogical Society of Queensland Wishart – $4,942
• Mt Gravatt East Primary P&C – $4,390
• Marshall Road Primary P&C – $2,035
• Girls Brigade Mansfield – $5,000
• RSL National Servicemen Mt Gravatt – $2,806
• Boys’ Brigade Queensland Holland Park – $4,750
• South Western Metro Basketball – $3,592
• Australian Academy of Martial Arts – $1,800
• Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Manly – $5,000
• Wynnum Manly Employment and Training – $4,800
• Gateway Life Centre Carindale – $5,000

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said volunteering greatly benefits our communities – both socially and economically.

“The enormous value of volunteering is estimated at $290 billion per year. Australia’s 8.7 million volunteers and their organisations are the backbone of community life,” Mr Vasta said.

“Volunteers embody the best of our community with thousands of people regularly volunteering their skills, services and time to make life in Bonner better for those around them,” said Mr Vasta.

The Liberal-National Government’s strong economic management is why we can afford to provide the essential services Australians rely on and support the good work of our volunteers.