Walkerston Bypass design alterations being costed by Main Roads

His comments came after he had been advised that although the Department of Main Roads was investigating options and associated costs and impacts of requests for design changes to the Mackay region bypass, changes would blow the construction timeframe out by at least a year.

"If everything is too difficult for the state government in terms of time and cost to fix the access issues, I have asked the government to consider compensatory grants to duplicate the operations of impacted farmers," Mr Christensen said. "That would not only be good for farmers but for road users as well."

Related: Walkerston Bypass in 'too hard' basket

The state's plan to force cumbersome farm vehicles to cross the planned new bypass via a staggered T-intersection has been of deep concern to local canegrowers and their lobby group, Canegrowers Mackay.

Chairman Kevin Borg has described the plan as an accident waiting to happen, particularly during the crushing season when an estimated 220 trips per day, or 22 large farm vehicles per hour, will cross the bypass, significantly adding to existing traffic volumes during peak periods.

Their concerns were conveyed by Mr Christensen to the Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack who in January said he would "have a look at" bypass safety concerns.

Mr Christensen confirmed that Mr McCormack had written to the state transport department offering a review of the design with the possibility of providing additional funding to amend the plan.

Canegrowers Mackay drew on an independent engineering report to put forward an alternative to the DTMR whereby traffic could be separated by an underpass.

Mr Borg said it would enable large farm vehicles like tractors, harvesters and cane haulout units to pass under the highway and carry out normal farming operations on the farmland on the other side.

While saying it was good to hear that DTMR was investigating options, costs and impacts of requested design changes, he added that considering options wasn't the same as decision-making.

"We look forward to a more positive outcome soon - certainly prior to the beginning of construction in three months' time."

A departmental spokeswoman has confirmed that final tender documents were released to shortlisted tenderers on Monday, March 15.

She noted that early works, including Mackay Water relocations, Ergon relocation and supply works, and Telstra relocations, had started in October 2020.

"Main construction is expected to start in mid-2021 and take two years to complete," she said. "The $150 million bypass will integrate with existing works on the Peak Downs Highway - Eton Range upgrade and the completed Mackay Ring Road (stage 1), which includes 2.6 kilometres of Walkerston Bypass."

Mr Christensen said that through the Deputy Prime Minister's office, the Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry and he had sought clarification from the state on the exact cost of variations to the Walkerston Bypass project that would lessen the impact on local cane farmers.

"The Queensland government via the Department of Transport has advised that changes to the design at this stage would blow the project timeframe out by at least a year, and so I am keen to explore the option of compensating local growers who may have to set up additional infrastructure and machinery on their farming properties where operations are segregated."

Mr Chistensen said it was unfortunate that the matter had been left to linger by the state government without resolution until the 11^th hour, when it was almost too late.

"This was flagged by farm organisations 12 months ago, hoping for some resolution," he said.

"It's not good enough. It seems like a tactic to get the outcome the government wanted.

"Therefore, farmers have to be compensated for this. The plan can't be, you just have to navigate a roaring highway with your slow heavy vehicles."

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