Welcome Redesign for Interchange
9 April 2005
Travelling to the University along the Motorway from Mooloolaba
this morning, I breathed a sigh of relief when I passed the old
toll area near Sippy Downs. Whilst having breakfast at a Mooloolaba
cafe ten minutes earlier, I'd read in the 'Daily' that a further $4
million had been allocated to upgrade the planned interchange in
that old toll booth area.
The upgrade of the Motorway to four lanes, and the introduction
of an interchange on a scale that was in doubt a few weeks ago, is
a major achievement by Minister Chris Cummins, who has been the
principal influence in progressing this initiative with Minister
Lucas and Minister Mackenroth.
Whilst there will be some who will regret the absence of a
westbound entry to the Motorway, there is a clear reassurance from
Minister Lucas that a western on-ramp will follow when a knowledge
precinct plan has been developed. We have already advertised for
consultants at the University to develop this plan, and we will now
fast track it. Hopefully, the western ramp can then be incorporated
into the current redesign for completion by mid-2007. In this way
the Stringybark Road congestion can be alleviated by using the
Dixon Road link, and eastern Chancellor Park users will also have a
western connection.
The interchange will ease congestion to Chancellor State
College, Siena College and the University, as well as open up the
Sippy Downs precinct generally for what we all hope will be
thoughtful, creative, quality development in the years ahead.
At a time when pressures on State Government funds are obvious,
Ministers Lucas and Cummins have to be congratulated on securing
this additional funding, against competition from so many sectors
in the spectrum of community affairs.
The State Government has shown a good deal of interest in Sippy
Downs as a knowledge hub, and has been confirmed in the Draft South
East Queensland Regional Plan, with Premier Beattie and Minister
Lucas frequently and personally underscoring the importance of the
area as a generator of jobs in the new economy industries.
Whilst we can all become occasionally frustrated at what seems
to be too slow a pace at which infrastructure is developed on the
Sunshine Coast, we ought nevertheless to convey praise when praise
is due. And there is no doubt that this interchange is a lot more
than just a simple boost to road connectivity.
The interchange is clearly about greater child safety around
education institutions on Sippy Downs Drive, but it is also about
unleashing and realising a good deal more economic and social
benefits for, and from, the growing Sippy Downs Community.
Sporting, cultural and technology venues will become more
accessible and more attractive, and when the western entry to the
Motorway is added, there will be an even stronger realisation of
the huge difference it will make to the Coast infrastructure.
For all those of us who want to see Sippy Downs developed
carefully as a district or sub-regional urban centre, distinguished
by its focus on knowledge and technology and new economy jobs, 2007
can't come soon enough.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast