I was assuming UTR was going IFR, as he mentioned he was flying an IFR single. Therefore tracking over the bn control tower @ 1500' isn't going to be much good to him. Also, overflying bn won't be much good anyway as caloundra is pretty much on the bn-mc track which is a one way route for North-bound traffic out of bn, so the clearance prob won't be available anyway.
I was also assuming he was ferrying an aircraft and not in for the scenic route. Why waste all that time and fuel going the long way round a short cut just to stay in class E. Like jabba said, the wx is generally much better on the other side of the range and it is much flatter too
