By Margaret Maccoll
Long term hinterland residents have spoken out about their safety concerns for the Pomona Kin Kin Road, but don’t believe the issues are caused by Kin Kin quarry haulage trucks.
While the Kin Kin Community Group, Noosa Council and Noosa MP are working to reduce the more than 200 quarry trucks a day on the road, Ashley Spresser and Chris Fairless both agree they have no problem with the quarry trucks or the quarry and there are others in the community who shared their views.
“We don’t want to close the quarry,” Ashley said.
“We’re all concerned about the quality of the road. The extra traffic has caused problems with the road.”
Ashley has lived in Pinbarren since 1981 when he said it was a single lane dirt road that carried logging and dairy trucks.
“You always had to be very careful on that road. It was 100km speed limit. It’s a dangerous road. A lot of the problem is residents driving too fast.”
Ashley said he often comes across local drivers who have run off the road but not as a result of incidents with quarry trucks. “They’re professional drivers. They’re driving appropriately. They’re not speeding.”
Just last week there were two car accidents on Pound Road and Yurol Forrest Drive, Pomona on roads also used by gravel trucks, he said. And in June three kangaroos were hit and killed by cars between the bottom and Kin Kin range and Pomona.
Ashley has identified three main issues of concern affecting the road regarding cyclists, tourists and off-street parking on Factory St, Pomona.
“Noosa Council advertise Pomona Kin Kin Rd as a cycle route. The Queensland Cycling Strategy does not include Pomona Kin Kin Rd as a priority, nor does it include Yurol Forrest Drive,“ he said.
“You can’t keep cyclists off roads, same thing as gravel trucks but should Noosa Council have it as a cycle route? They shouldn’t be encouraging people on that road. It’s dangerous.”
Ashley said he’d been run off the road several times by cars crossing over double lines on to his side of the road to overtake bicycles.
“In short, the main roads are not suitable for the activities that they are being used for, they need to be developed.”
Ashley believes the promotion of Pomona Kin Kin as a tourist drive also causes problems.
“We get a lot of motor cycle users on this road now. I am certain that a lot of the motorbike exhaust noise would not pass regulation,” he said.
“Motorcycles are making more noise than any quarry truck. Then there is the issue of increased tourism traffic on a dangerous road.
“What is the point with closing a Quarry only to replace it with tourism? It can be argued (environmental, social and economic) that one is as bad and disruptive as each other. It can be easily argued that tourism is no better to the environment than a quarry. On a social level the impacts are the same. For most of us that live here, we want peace and quiet, this is our home.“
Ashley’s third identified problem is the lack of legal parking along Factory Street, Pomona, (the street through Pomona leading to Pomona Kin Kin Road) that forces people to park on the footpath leaving little room for pedestrians and no space for mobility scooters. He said people reverse out of their properties into the traffic, line of sight is poor and there’s no safe place for pedestrians to cross. He believes the speed limit should be reduced to 40km/hr on Factory Street.
Chris Fairless agrees with the points raised by Ashley and also believes the people who want the quarry shut down need to have another option.
He said the quarry was a legitimate business that had operated in the area before many opposing it had moved in, and most people had gravel or bitumen driveways made with gravel delivered by the quarry.
Chris said he wasn’t bothered by the noise of the trucks or their presence on the Pomona-Kin Kin Road but he had friends who were vehemently opposed to the quarry.
“I don’t want to get into conflict with my neighbours. It’s a difficult thing. I just think people have to have a broader view on things and have a look at how they drive,” he said.
