Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey has announced his department would be installing heavy vehicle advisory signs on Pomona Kin Kin Road after calls from Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart and Noosa MP Sandy Bolton to act on concerns over road user safety.
Cr Stewart called on the Main Roads Minister to exercise his legislative powers to restrict the number of Kin Kin Quarry trucks travelling on Pomona Kin Kin Road.
She said she had written several letters to Minister Bailey over the past couple of months to act on Kin Kin residents’ safety concerns about quarry trucks using Pomona Kin Kin Road.
“This is about preventing an accident or a fatality,” the Mayor said. “Based on the feedback from our community, there is a genuine likelihood of that occurring in the foreseeable future,” she said.
“Kin Kin residents are increasingly frightened for the safety of their loved ones, especially their children who regularly have to cross roads used by quarry trucks travelling at significant speed,” she said.
Provisions in the Transport Infrastructure Act allow the state to restrict the use of its roads in order to prevent damage to road infrastructure or to ensure the safety of road users.
The state can apply temporary restrictions based on vehicle class, time of day and load weight.
“We have advised the state government that Pomona Kin Kin Road is not fit for purpose for handling quarry trucks and passing cars, especially buses,” Cr Stewart said.
“The school bus shares the same route at the same time as many quarry trucks and we’re hearing reports about the school bus nearly being run off the road, as well as near misses’ involving students on the roadside.”
“I call on the Minister to act as legislation allows him to limit the impact of truck movements. Please Minister, act now before there is a fatality rather than acting after a major accident occurs.
“Instigating this legislation will help to safeguard against an accident, or even worse – a fatality,” the Mayor said.
“We owe it to our community to avoid a foreseeable loss of life, particularly in relation to children on school buses. I call on the Minister to step in.”
At a recent community meeting Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said she had also written to the Premier and relevant state government departments demanding action for the safety of residents.
Ms Bolton said assessment of the road 10 years ago four it was inadequate to deal with 80 truck movements a day and now there are more than 200. She said there had not been an assessment done on the capacity of the road to deal with the tonnage.
Minister Bailey said he had met with Ms Bolton a number of times and understood the community’s concerns regarding the Kin Kin Quarry.
“My department has been working with Sandy and Mayor Stewart to look at solutions, and is continuing to investigate options,” he said.
“I’m pleased to confirm that TMR will be installing heavy vehicle advisory signs, in consultation with the Member for Noosa and Noosa Shire Council.”
Mr Bailey said concerns around the frequency of quarry trucks fell under Council’s Quarry Management Plan but TMR would continue to work with Sandy and Council to try and reach a resolution.
