Western Suburbs Residents Treated as 'Mushrooms'
Thursday, 19 January 2012 10:05
Anger is mounting in the western suburbs in relation to the “cone of silence” that surrounds any decision-making or investigation of local traffic and public transport.
In an extraordinary letter to me, Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts declared that the Emergency Services Department had changed their mind about the sale of the old (now closed) fire station at Kenmore because the Department of Main Roads had expressed an interest in the site!
In another move further heightening the mystery and secrecy surrounding State Government consideration of local roads, an offer by the Brisbane City Council to fund a “civic upgrade” of the environs around Moggill Road between OLR and the roundabout was rejected by the State Government on the basis of consideration being given to future works related to Moggill Road.Well, it is extraordinary that despite a community consultation on a Kenmore Bypass back in 2009, the Government still refuse to publicly release the results of that consultation or the advice that the Kenmore Bypass Study Group gave to either the Department or the Minister in relation to that project.
It now seems that further consideration is being given to other matters that are being kept secret from both myself and Cr Margaret de Wit as local representatives and from the local community.
There has been speculation about the possibility of traffic lights to replace the Kenmore roundabout. Whether or not this has merit, there is absolutely no justification in keeping such considerations secret from the community. Our community has to live with the unacceptable traffic conditions on Moggill Road daily. We must also live with the consequences of any change the Government makes.
The Main Roads Department previously looked at a dual flow system where Moggill Road outbound approaching the Kenmore roundabout would be one way (outbound). Cedarleigh Road would become one way inbound from the Kenmore roundabout to Marshall Lane. It was my understanding this proposal had been dismissed by the Main Roads Department. If the Main Roads Department interest in the fire station site reflects a renewed interest in this dual flow concept then our local community deserves to be taken into the Government’s confidences in relation to what it is they are considering.
A dual flow system would also have significant impact on local residents along Moggill Road, Cedarleigh Road and Bielby Road and those residents similarly should not be kept in the dark.
I have written to the Main Roads Minister requesting that all this information be released to the public. Click here to read my letter to the Minister.