Lui’s comments draw ire of constituents
Constituents unhappy
COOK MP Cynthia Lui has faced stinging criticism from frustrated constituents across the Far North after publicly venting her concerns about a dangerous driver and near collision on the very roadway she has long deemed is completely safe and drivable.
The MP took to her public Facebook page a short time ago to recount a dangerous situation she encountered while travelling the Kuranda Range road in the past 48 hours.
“I have driven the Kuranda Range many times and have made it my priority to drive safely to ensure my safety and the safety of other road users,” Ms Lui exclaimed.
“This morning however, my staff member and I almost got wiped out by a truck driving so recklessly down the Kuranda Range.
“Before anyone starts up about the road, it is one of the safest roads I have driven on.
“There is a real problem though if you are travelling more than the required speed limit and while turning a curve, move into the lane of oncoming traffic.”
Newsport readers from across the Douglas shire regularly use the Kuranda Range road for business and pleasure and are no strangers to the varying hazards drivers face on the outdated two-lane road.
Ms Lui’s comments drew the ire of frustrated motorists who were quick to remind the state member, that in fact in their collective view it’s the range itself that’s dangerous rather than the motorists that get behind the wheel on it.
“If there was a safe and better road, like a wider highway between Cairns and the Tablelands it would be safer for motorists and truck drivers, wake up and stop taking taxpayers money for nothing in return,” an online comment read following her statement.
“I have driven on roads all over Australia and the Kuranda Range road is definitely not one of the safest,” another person said.
“It’s so safe it’s been closed eight times since January 30 this year due to accidents or trees. It’s scary to drive on and you do not have to be exceeding the speed limit whatsoever,” a range driver wrote.
A recently released $1.6-million state government study that investigated alternative transport options between Cairns and the Tablelands recently determined there is no need for an alternative route to the Kuranda Range road.
The state government claimed in its overdue report there will be sufficient capacity on the Kuranda Range until at least 2051.