We need Councillors who have the future in mind, says retired engineer Thomas Draper who has previously delivered his traffic-busting solution to Hastings Street congestion to Noosa Council, and briefly outlines his priority concept here, with more concepts to follow in the coming weeks.
For many years a controlling block of Noosa Councillors with the same political motivation have prevented structural changes which would otherwise have led to vehicular traffic flowing better in the CBD. Better routes and parking denied.
A traffic congestion charge has now been voiced. This is to whip us, not help us.
The fact is that no town can be really happy without maintaining a scale that is needed to make it function properly.
On 3 February 2019 a grand design called ‘The DRAPER Project’ to significantly upgrade Noosa’s CBD plan was handed to the CEO by the author of this article in person.
The author is a retired professional with extensive civil and structural engineering experience here and overseas. He has put over 5,000 hours effort in to the plan, revising, up-dating and re-submitting it in the face of blissful ignorance over the last five years. He is Noosa resident of 33 years.
There has been no support offered by Council. The author requested no grants. There are several Concepts in the project. Here, top priority Concept 1.
Hastings Street should be converted to one-way traffic from Noosa Drive at the Police Beat, down to the Noosa Woods roundabout. See drawing TDP-0046.
From the forgoing roundabout, drivers should cross over a hereby proposed 2-way canal bridge to Noosa Parade then on to Munna Point or Noosaville.
Drivers could alternatively continue on to a new 600 vehicle architecturally appealing parking garage to include strata title especially for hinterland residents in part, on the right hand side of Claude Batten Drive near the first groin.
The lowest level should house also tracked 20 person boats for board rider shuttle. This should take excessive load off Park Road. Surf board/kayak hire and maintenance services provided. Parking slots to be booked by phone. eVTOL air taxi vertiport on the roof for fastest airport shuttle in due course.
A 400 car asphalt wasteland exists on the Spit. Some parking areas may be absorbed by the new facility, eventually enabling conversion to green space.
Another concept within the DRAPER Project features 2 similar large paid garages on the outskirts of the CBD ever balancing the load on the Noosa Woods garage.
At Munna Point, 100 bicycles could be hired out.
Keep an eye out for Concept 2.
