By Margaret Maccoll
The Kin Kin community says the State Government’s recent announcement of speed reductions on the Gympie-Kin Kin Road may result in a marginal improvement but was not a solution to the problem for residents of living with 200 quarry trucks a day thundering through their hinterland towns.
Transport and Main Roads (TMR) North Coast Regional Director Scott Whitaker said the speed limit reduction was among a number of road safety measures being undertaken, including vegetation maintenance, repairs and edge-strengthening work.
“We have investigated the speed limit and, as a result, Kin Kin Road – from north of the township to the intersection with Paulsens Road – will be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h,” Mr Whitaker said.
“The speed limit on a further 5km section from the Paulsens Road intersection northwards will be reduced to 90km/h.”
Mr Whitaker said the Speed Management Committee endorsed a reduction in the speed limit following a review process which considered a range of factors such as road function, roadside environment, existing construction standard of the road, prevailing traffic speeds and crash history.
“This committee includes representatives from the Queensland Police Service, Noosa council and TMR,” he said.
Kin Kin Community Group president Jan Bonsall said speed reductions on the road may ease some truck revving and air-braking noise but the real solution was to close the quarry.
Ms Bonsall said her greatest concern was for the mental health issues resulting from the quarry truck traffic from their noise and safety concerns on the narrow roads.
She said people who had lived in the area for years were considering moving because of the stress it was causing them.
Save Noosa Hinterland group spokeswoman Sarah Keating said the speed reductions would make no difference to people living south of Kin Kin on Pomona-Kin Kin Road and were a contentious move in the community.
“It’s something nobody wants to see longterm,“ she said.
“These roads are OK for the majority of vehicles, they’re just not OK for the massive lorry trucks.“
She said the ideal solution was for the quarry trucks to go completely with other solutions for the quarry to go somewhere else or for a separate haulage route to be built.
“This impacts a lot on people. Feelings are very strong out there,“ she said.
Ms Keating said with the region promoted for tourist drives it was not ideal to have tourists and quarry trucks sharing the Kin Kin range roads.
Mr Whitaker said TMR had implemented other measures to improve safety and address community concerns on this important Noosa hinterland link.
“We are aware this is becoming a busier route and general access heavy vehicles use Kin Kin Road,“ he said.
“That’s why TMR has recently completed a program of larger repairs, increased vegetation maintenance to reduce potential roadside hazards, and undertaken drainage works to help reduce the risks of future damage.
“TMR is also continuing investigations to determine potential treatments for priority sections and we are committed to maintaining Kin Kin Road in a safe and trafficable condition.“
The latest in a series of stakeholder meetings on the quarry trucks will be held in the morning at Noosa Council on 16 December followed on the same day by a community meeting at 5.30pm at the Majestic Theatre at Pomona.
