Bligh and Labor’s Broadwater back-flip was a short-sighted victory for bureaucratic inertia over local initiative, the LNP said today.

Shadow Minister for Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said Minister Nolan’s announcement that a committee would plan future dredging works in the Broadwater proved Bligh and Labor could not be trusted to deliver what they promised.

“It is obvious Bligh and Labor have learned nothing from years of mismanagement and neglect of the environmentally sensitive Broadwater,” Ms Simpson said.

“Since the former authority was abolished by the Goss Labor government, the Broadwater has suffered chronic procrastination and delay from a succession of blame-shifting Labor bureaucracies.

“Bligh and Labor’s obsession with a Brisbane-based centralised bureaucracy ignores local reality and expertise, which is always better informed to make decisions which immediately affect their regions.”

Ms Simpson said managing the Broadwater was not just about dredging.

“Managing the Broadwater is a complex mix of planning for the future of the foreshore and the waterways, including those in adjoining regions,” she said.

“Bligh and Labor had indicated after recent negotiations with interested parties that a properly constituted waterways authority was the best way forward, but yet again this government has reneged on its promises, offering something else.

“Gold Coasters who thought for a moment that Bligh and Labor had come to their senses over how best to manage the Broadwater should be disappointed but not surprised that this government’s preference is for a constipated committee over a properly constituted Gold Coast Waterways Authority.

“Queenslanders continue to discover to their cost Bligh and Labor always promise one thing then deliver something else.

“If Queenslanders want to regain control of iconic, vital assets like the Broadwater they need to get rid of Bligh and Labor and elect an LNP government next they go to the ballot box.”