Spicer's Gap considered
TRAVEL time and cost blow-outs caused by landslides could be reduced significantly between the Southern Downs and Brisbane if funding to improve an alternate route is granted.
Dawn Scrymgeour from Warwick's LNP Women group moved a motion asking the LNP government to consider a second main range crossing via Spicer's Gap as an alternative to Cunningham's Gap at the 2012 LNP Convention in Brisbane on Friday.
"If Cunningham's Gap is closed there is no alternate to take, apart from going back and down Heifer Creek Rd to Brisbane," she said.
"We have had cases where people with medical appointments in Brisbane have gotten to the top of the range and been told it's closed so they have to turn around and go back down through Heifer Creek.
"It means almost a three-hour extra return trip.
"A lot of people are missing their medical appointment and also it's not good for transport. It's costing them a lot of extra money.
"We feel ... money could be spent on making Spicer's Gap suitable for an alternate route when Cunningham's Gap is closed due to landslides."
The motion was carried.
Premier Campbell Newman told media he would take all the resolutions on board but his parliamentary team would ultimately decide what would be implemented.
"The party is a democratic organisation with 14,000 members," he said.
"They're entitled to put up anything they want to have considered.
"The LNP has its view but as a parliament team we have to represent all of Queensland and do the best we can for all Queenslanders.
"We will always do what we can for Queenslanders ahead of the LNP."
