News
22 July, 2025
Residents on a collision course over highway
Dozens of families between North Lakes and Caboolture are facing the possibility of losing their homes under a newly released Bruce Highway upgrade plan, with up to 90 properties flagged for full or partial resumption.
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) last week unveiled details of the $34 million proposed upgrade to an 18-kilometre stretch of the highway between Anzac Avenue in North Lakes and Caboolture-Bribie Island Road in Caboolture.
The project includes additional lanes, new interchanges and service road realignments—but its potential impact on residents has triggered community anger and claims of inadequate consultation.
Some affected homeowners only learned their properties were in the firing line after a media release was issued on July 16. Letters were hand-delivered or mailed out later that same day, prompting confusion and frustration among those set to lose homes or land.
A resident of Forbes Court in Morayfield, who asked not to be named, said they first heard of the plans via social media.
“I look on Facebook in the morning and see this news video talking about an upgrade and expansion and was like ‘that’s our street’,” they said. “We only got a letter in the mail later in the day.”
The resident later met with TMR representatives, but described the encounter as largely dismissive.
“They showed us pretty pictures and told us how good it will be for the region, but we won’t be part of the region anymore,” they said. “If we get market value for our property, we’re going to have to move to Bundaberg or somewhere else far away to afford the same kind of house. We won’t be able to stay in this community.”
The resident said the only previous correspondence from TMR came in 2023 and referred to minor upgrades and a lane addition, with “minimal disruption and resumptions”.
“They said people would lose one or two metres of their back fence, but now suddenly it’s this huge upgrade. As soon as the Government changed, the whole thing changed.”
TMR has said it consulted the community between October and November 2023, but locals argue the scale of this latest proposal goes well beyond what was initially indicated.
Member for Morayfield, Mark Ryan, described the situation as “a disgrace”.
“My goal is to make sure that affected residents are not blindsided by this Government,” he said. “People are owed the decency and respect of meaningful consultation and consideration before flashy videos and graphics are distributed to the media. It is my expectation—and the expectation of our community—that all affected people will be properly consulted.”
He added: “My job is not to stand in the way of progress, but to ensure people are treated with respect when it comes to their homes and livelihoods.”
TMR said it had provided “advance notice” to property owners where expansion may be required and is prioritising direct meetings.
“No properties are being resumed at this time,” a department spokesperson said. “We will work closely with property owners to provide transparency and outline options available to them. Property owners can remain in their homes until construction funding and timelines are confirmed in the future.”
Resumptions are not expected to be required for many years, and the next stages are subject to funding.
In addition to homes, the project is expected to affect council land, state-owned parcels and commercial premises.
The upgrade is being developed in three business cases:
– Anzac Avenue to Uhlmann Road;
– Uhlmann Road to Buchanan Road;
– Buchanan Road to Caboolture-Bribie Island Road.
Between Anzac Avenue and Uhlmann Road, the preferred solution is to add an additional northbound and southbound lane within the existing median, increasing the number of lanes from three to four in each direction.
From Uhlmann Road to Caboolture-Bribie Island Road, TMR proposes building multi-lane, one-way collector-distributor roads on both sides of the highway to handle local traffic and reduce access points onto the main carriageway.
Collector-distributor roads are designed to separate shorter local trips from highway traffic and provide better connectivity to the local road network. TMR said this is the most viable option for a stretch that includes three interchanges and access to nearby service centres.
The Uhlmann Road interchange will be upgraded, with the existing two-lane overpass bridge replaced by a higher, longer structure. Signalised ramp intersections will be added to improve efficiency.
At Buchanan Road, the existing overpass will also be replaced. Roundabout ramp intersections will be removed and replaced by new signalised junctions designed to better manage flow and accommodate increased traffic volumes.
At the northern end of the upgrade, the Caboolture-Bribie Island Road interchange will be transformed with two new overpass bridges, additional lanes and a loop ramp that will allow uninterrupted travel from Caboolture towards Brisbane. Signalised ramp intersections will also be introduced to better regulate merging traffic.
TMR says the overall upgrade will deliver “multiple long-term benefits”, including improved safety and network efficiency, reduced congestion and queuing, better flood resilience and enhanced capacity for active transport like walking and cycling.
Still, residents remain sceptical. Several have criticised the Government’s messaging around the project, accusing TMR of presenting the latest plan as a continuation of previous community engagement rather than a dramatic escalation in scope.
The department said that in 2023, community consultation was promoted through newsletters, social media, its project website and email notifications. In total, 90 comments were submitted via online and traditional methods, 24 phone calls were received, 180 letters were sent to properties in the area, and 160 email notifications were issued to stakeholders.
A second round of community feedback is now open, with residents, motorists and business owners able to make submissions until 14 September 2025.
TMR has called on the public to engage with the planning process and provide feedback while details are still under consideration.
“Community feedback is vital in shaping the final design and outcomes,” the spokesperson said.
More information, including maps and artist impressions, is available on the department’s project website: www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/programs/Bruce-Highway-Upgrade-Anzac-Avenue-to-Caboo
