I’ve made the editorial pages in the local paper. For the next 3 weeks
anyway, while the usual Friday provider is away. So I wrote this piece
on an eastern highway by-pass of the city. Something that doesn’t seem
to be a favoured option. Not sure why. Because if a highway by-pass is
part of the grand plan, wouldn’t an eastern (coastal) one provide more
benefits for the region. And as 1 Pink Lilly resident said, “if they
build a western by-pass that acts like a dam in flood time to protect
the airport Pink Lilly will be wiped out”. Feel free to add your
comments.
The mono rail service to Rockhampton was full of fluoro orange and
yellow shirts as it departed Emu Park. After a quick stop at the Keppel
Sands turn off the track now was parallelling the new eastern highway
by-pass of Rockhampton, following it across the new vehicle/rail bridge
at Nerimbera to its next stop at Gavial. Here predominately Gracemere
passengers boarded for the short trip into Rockhampton station.
Passengers disembarked at Rockhampton to catch the connecting Hassel
Bullet train service to Gladstone, hop on a bus or take advantage of the
free bicycles to get into town. The decision for the highway by-pass
to go to the coast side of Rockhampton not only decreased the number of
semi trailers driving through the city, it effectively flood proofed the
highway and Rockhampton. The added benefit was the effect it was
having on Emu Park and Zilzie. Many of the fly in fly out Gladstone
workforce were re-locating their families to Emu Park and Zilzie. The
train service was enabling the workers to return to their families after
each shift. Combined with the coastal lifestyle, affordable land,
proximity to Rockhampton and Gladstone, it was proving to be an
irresistible lure. The increase in both residents and tourists was
stimulating further development. Improvements to the Coorooman Creek
boat ramp and the new marina were being completed. Zilzie Bay was
drawing comparisons to Port Douglas and Noosa with its resort, shopping
centre and golf courses. The business centre of Emu Park was expanding,
with what seemed to be a real estate agent on every corner. The surf
life saving club expansions were proving popular with diners and for
functions, providing the club a good income source to fund the
additional resources needed for its now larger patrol commitments.
Despite pressure the Capricorn Regional Council was able to maintain Emu
Park’s village appeal, banning development in Bell Park and high rise
developments, enabling the residents and tourists to still hear the hum
of the Singing Ship as the sea breeze blew across its pipes.
This aspiration can happen, if we make it happen. Our future is not to
see, but to create. By showing how Central Queensland can continue to
make a significant contribution to the State and nation’s economy after
the resource boom gives us a stronger argument for the infrastructure
needed. Major infrastructure projects like the ones suggested here.
Infrastructure that’s needed now to help create the CQ we aspire to.
Footnote: I wonder if the Local and State Governments have considered
an eastern highway by-pass of Rockhampton. If a by-pass of the city is
in the grand plan, I question wouldn’t a by-pass that leaves the
southern highway around Gavial crossed a new bridge at Nerimbera,
followed the existing Emu Park Road, then cutting across to Cawarral
following Artillery Road onto Greenlakes Road back onto the highway be
more advantageous to our region. At least with this option there’s
arguably a greater chance of people stopping in the region then there
would be with a western by-pass.