I am proud to update the House on a project of real importance to local residents in the Capalaba electorate. That project is the duplication of the EGW Wood Bridge, known to many people locally as the Tingalpa Creek bridge. Recently I announced that the Crisafulli government is investing $500,000 to advance the business case for the upgrade of this important connection between the Redland and Brisbane City Council areas. For far too long this bridge has been a bottleneck for local commuters, tradies, families, small business owners and everyone who relies on that crossing to get between the Redlands and Brisbane.
The EGW Wood Bridge was officially opened in 1970 and named after Ernest Gaden Western
Wood, known as Dick Wood, who was a long-serving chairman of the Redland Shire Council and briefly the member for Logan. At the time the opening was officiated by then lord mayor Clem Jones. More than 50 years later, that bridge remains the northernmost road connection out of the Redlands and a crucial route for people travelling through Capalaba, Birkdale, Thorneside, Wynnum and the surrounding bayside communities. This road is a daily pressure point in the lives of thousands of residents who simply want to get to work, get home to their families, pick up their kids, attend appointments, run their businesses and move around their community without unnecessary delay.
Since that bridge was opened, the population in our community has grown enormously as more
people have moved to the area to enjoy the best lifestyle in the state. Unfortunately, the transport infrastructure in the Capalaba electorate has not kept pace with that growth. The former Labor government put this project in the too-hard basket while locals were crying out for action. The benefit of upgrading this bridge is plain to see, and it is time we got on with the job.
When I put my hand up to run for parliament, I knew this bridge was a source of congestion and
that it had been neglected for too long. One of my key election commitments was to tackle the issue, and now I am doing just that. This is exactly the sort of practical local infrastructure issue that people raise with me constantly. They are not asking for the world; they are asking for basic transport connections in our community to be treated seriously. Locals are telling me that they are very pleased to see that progress is finally underway. They know that advancing the business case is an important step toward a genuine improvement of the congestion issues that my constituents are dealing with every day. They also understand that serious infrastructure projects require proper planning, proper assessment and a clear pathway toward delivery. I have heard feedback from some residents expressing frustration that work is only just now being done on this bridge, and I share that frustration. This should have been dealt with years ago. The former Labor government had plenty of time to recognise the problem and act on it but, like so many other pressing issues across the state, it sat on its hands and did nothing.
The business case is due to be completed around mid-2027, and I will continue to provide strong
advocacy every step of the way to ensure this important bridge comes to fruition. We all know the bridge needs upgrading, and the business case is the crucial first step in getting that work properly assessed, planned and ready to proceed. Capalaba, the Redlands and the wider bayside communities deserve a government that listens, acts and delivers on the local infrastructure that matters to their daily lives. That is what I promised to do and that is exactly what the Crisafulli government is delivering.