The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) has slammed the state government's ShapingSEQ 2023 Update.
As South East Queensland's (SEQ) population grows, the program aims to enhance the region by expanding or improving the local communities and supporting their various needs and lifestyles.
In a submission to the ShapingSEQ 2023 Update, RACQ claimed that the region is at risk of becoming congested if it implements poor transport planning.
“We must put the pedal to the metal on road, public and active transport planning if we are to preserve SEQ's famous lifestyle, strengthen our economy, and keep our communities safe,” said Dr Michael Kane, head of public policy at RACQ. “In its current form, the draft ShapingSEQ 2023 Update has all the right policy statements but has major gaps in transport infrastructure planning and how it will be delivered to manage the region's expected population growth.
“Having access to a safe, stable, and affordable home is a fundamental right, but to increase housing supply, we must also have infrastructure to move residents around safely and efficiently. We can't afford to increase density in existing areas or approve housing developments in greenfield sites without adequate public, active, and road transport infrastructure.”
To improve ShapingSEQ, RACQ recommends focusing on the following factors:
“Governments must use planning powers to limit new developments in areas highly prone to flooding, bushfire, and coastal hazards. Climate change risk assessments should be mandatory to identify these vulnerable areas,” Kane said.
In other news, RACQ teamed up with the Queensland government to establish fast charging sites for electric vehicles (EVs) as many Australians seek sustainable options.
