Heart bypass to transform a highway into high street

Today's opening of the $27.5 million Beaudesert Town Centre Bypass is set to help drive the revitalisation and renewal of the town centre precinct.

"This bypass will help get the town's heart pumping again by enabling us to work towards the creation of a more inviting community space in the centre of Beaudesert," Mayor Greg Christensen said.

The 1.5-kilometre bypass has realigned the Mt Lindesay Highway to the west of the town centre between the northern end of Brisbane St and Boonah-Beaudesert Rd.

Cr Christensen joined the Hon. Mark Furner, Minister for Local Government and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, to officially open the new section of highway.

He said the bypass represented another important economic catalyst for the growing Scenic Rim region.

"What this means for Council and the community is that we can now forge ahead with our plans to revitalise and renew the town centre of Beaudesert through our Vibrant and Active Towns and Villages initiative," he said.

"In consultation with the local community, we have framed an exciting town centre master plan to chart the future direction of Beaudesert. The crucial first step in that journey of renewal is to reduce the number of heavy vehicles in the town centre.

"Our vision is to create a town centre precinct where people can stroll, shop and perhaps dine outdoors with greater convenience and comfort, where heavy vehicles are not sharing a space with locals and visitors parking and walking.

"That is the difference between a high street and a highway."

Cr Christensen said the bypass would support the further activation of the game-changing Bromelton State Development Area.

"The economic growth and prosperity of our region can be measured in the increasing number of heavy vehicle movements along Mount Lindesay Highway every day, many travelling to and from the Bromelton industry precinct," he said.

"Those trucks will no longer need to travel through a congested and constrained Beaudesert town centre. Instead, this bypass provides a much-needed alternative route, one which is welcomed by our heavy vehicle operators.

"This is a great outcome for the region and I thank the State Government for its commitment to delivering this important infrastructure project in partnership with Council."