The Federal Government will contribute $8.2 million towards improving the Kings Highway between Queanbeyan and Bungendore. Announced by the Minister for Defence Brendan Nelson and Special Minister of State Gary Nairn, the funding contribution acknowledges that the traffic load created by the decision to locate the Defence Headquarters Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) near Bungendore will have some impact on all users of the Kings Highway.
A Defence traffic study carried out between February and August this year indicated that four overtaking lanes and a major intersection upgrade at Captains Flat Road are needed to maintain traffic flows on the Kings Highway.
Earlier traffic surveys on the impact of increased traffic on the Kings Highway between Bungendore and Queanbeyan conducted by Roads ACT and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority have formed a useful basis for the Defence survey.
Defence will immediately begin consultations with both Roads ACT and the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority on the delivery strategy and commencement date for the road works.
The Australian Government recognises its responsibilities for the safety of Defence personnel and all those who travel to and from the new headquarters site.
This funding for these upgrades to the Kings Highway will form part of a development strategy to address traffic issues which is required to be provided to the Minister for Environment and Water Resources under the environmental conditions of approval for the HQJOC Project.
HQJOC will bring together all elements of the planning and command and control of Australian Defence Force operations.
Construction related activity commenced in November 2006 and the project remains on schedule for Defence staff to begin occupation of the new facility towards the end of 2008.
The Defence Headquarters Joint Operations Command facility will provide significant economic benefit to the region, including through the creation of around 400 construction jobs and the sourcing of sub-contractors and materials from the local region.
Over 70 support staff being recruited by Spotless Services Australia to provide the facilities management services for the site.
The headquarters will have around 600 Defence permanent positions over the period from December 2006 to January 2009.
Local Member for Monaro Steve Whan has said that "the potential traffic problems inflicted upon the community by the Defence HQ facility has finally seen some attention from the Howard Government, however the money promised is too little, far too late."
"While I welcome the belated funding to the King's Highway, I must admit I'm disappointed that the announcement today is only for part of the cost" said Whan. "The RTA has advised that originally $44 million worth of upgrades were required to cope with traffic generated by the Defence HQ.
Steve Whan is also concerned that the works associated with today's announcement won't be complete until well after the Defence HQ becomes operational. "If the Defence HQ were any other commercial development, the developer (in this case the Defence Department) would have to meet the full cost of necessary road-safety upgrades - not taxpayers in the surrounding region" he said.
Palerang Council welcomed the announcement by the Federal Government, but General Manager, Peter Bascomb, commented that Council has been lobbying the Federal Government for the past three years to provide funding for the upgrade of the road. "However, this is only part of the story as Council believes the defence study is flawed in its assessment that people from North Canberra will not travel via Macs Reef Road, which is now in Alby Schultz' electorate of Hume," said Mr Bascomb. "Council calls on the Federal Government to provide the $1.8m we've requested to construct overtaking lanes on Macs Reef Road," he added.
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