More than 200 residents turned out at Cooroy Memorial Hall to hear Nicklin and Noosa MPs Marty Hunt and Sandy Bolton address concerns and answer questions on the issue of installing traffic lights or roundabouts at two of Cooroy’s state-controlled intersections in Elm Street.
Cooroy Area Residents Association (CARA) spokesman Rod Ritchie said responses from the meeting indicated traffic lights, which are the cheaper option, are more pedestrian and cyclist friendly, while roundabout users experience less severe accidents and a smoother traffic flow.
“An exit poll of 115 people showed 46 people wanting lights at the Myall/Elm intersection and 60 preferring a roundabout. There were 10 votes for no change,” he said.
“At the Diamond/Elm intersection, 45 wanted lights while 60 voted for a roundabout. There were 11 votes for no change.
“Interpreting this small poll, shows the gap between the two options is closing from CARA’s earlier Facebook polls which showed roundabouts more than twice as popular as lights. Likely because the town wants a solution sooner, rather than later. And likely, also, because that’s the only option (Department of Transport and Main Roads) TMR has on the table.”
The onus if now on the MPs to report the responses from residents to TMR and for TMR to collate the responses with those they have received via their website, before reporting back to the community.
Mr Ritchie said the economic impact on traders during the installation of either lights or roundabouts needed to be considered. “Busy streets in Brisbane that had lights installed found many shops without decent parking suffered a loss of trade in peak periods,” he said.
“It’s worth noting that TMR have indicated it can take up to four years for a budgeted proposal to be acted on by the state government, so there’s no early relief in sight. As to a new crossing of the railway, the town has been told to forget this expensive solution in the medium term.”
Submissions on the project will be collected until 18 February.
Email northcoast@tmr.qld.gov.au, phone the project team on 5451 7055 and for more information visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects?Name/C/Cooroy-intersection-improvements#communityfeedback.
