Transport Concerns

Wednesday, 27 June 2012 08:14

Transport issues, including traffic, road safety and public transport, are the single biggest issue we face in the Moggill electorate. 

This is why I wrote to the new Minister for Transport, Scott Emerson, as soon as the new cabinet was appointed outlining some of my concerns in this area. 

I have now also arranged a meeting with the Minister for the 10^th of July where I will be outlining the issues we face in greater detail. 

Some of the matters I will be raising with the Minister include:  

Traffic Congestion along Moggill Road / Kenmore Bypass 

As a local, the Minister is well-placed to understand the serious problems presented by traffic congestion along Moggill Rd. RACQ surveys regularly list it as one of the worst commutes in the state and it is putting intolerable pressure on local residents. 

I have always been an active advocate of a Kenmore Bypass to help relieve this congestion. 

The Labor government has left us with a debt of $85 billion and with an annual state budget of only $42 billion this clearly makes funding of projects the most difficult it has been in Queensland history. However, I will not be deterred from vigorously pursuing this transport infrastructure. As a first step, I have requested the release of the 2009 community consultation regarding the proposed Kenmore Bypass and I will be pursuing this further with the Minister.  

Grandview Road 

As I have made clear in the past, I am very concerned about safety at the intersection of Moggill and Grandview Roads in the area of the bus stops and I have highlighted these concerns to the Minister. I have pointed out that his Department had previously acknowledged the danger and the need for traffic lights and a safe pedestrian crossing, but that no action has ever been taken. 

Birkin Road U-turn 

I have not given up on this, despite the lack of positive response to the petition I presented to Parliament at the end of last year showing the community’s strong desire for a u-turn facility at the intersection of Birkin and Moggill Rds. Motorists continue to do illegal U-turns at this intersection, risking their own safety as well as that of other motorists and pedestrians.  

Colleges Crossing 

I am determined to ensure this issue does not drop off the radar. Although there have not been any recent water releases from Wivenhoe Dam, the need to raise this vital link, used by 10,000 cars a day, is urgent. I believe it also needs to be widened to improve safety for the pedestrians and cyclists that also use this crossing. 

Birkin Road U-turn rejected by Government

Tuesday, 13 March 2012 15:16

Thank you to all the local residents who signed the petition that was circulated at the end of 2011 calling for the State Government to reconfigure the intersection of Moggill Road and Birkin Road to allow a U-turn at the traffic lights. 

I was pleased to support this petition which was circulated by our local police officer Senior Constable Leesa Richardson. 

The government has responded to the petition rejecting the overwhelming call by local residents to make this sensible change.

In fact, some 750 local residents signed this petition in a matter of days, indicting that the change has overwhelming local support. 

The government’s response is disappointing and ignores the wishes of the local community. 

The Minister's letter advises:- 

Read more: Birkin Road U-turn rejected by Government

Government Says No to Pedestrian Barrier

Monday, 06 February 2012 09:26

 The State Government, after investigating the possibly of pedestrian barriers around the Kenmore roundabout, came to two conclusions.  

Firstly (and surprisingly to many of us) they found that pedestrians ducking across the road near the roundabout were doing so safely! 

Secondly, they considered that there were practical issues about the erection of a barrier at any of the three locations that they previously indicated (see elsewhere on the website). 

There are issues with pedestrians ducking across Moggill Road at various points from the 7-Eleven through to the Kenmore churches. 

We certainly can’t blame pedestrians as there are few options for crossing the road. I have certainly seen some practices that didn’t look safe. 

Of course, all of this misses the main point that a local community like Kenmore with schools, shops, local traffic, driveways and homes is not suitable for a through road carrying these large numbers of frequently frustrated motorists. 

This is just the latest problem area along Moggill Road at Kenmore (along with the appalling intersection of Kenmore Rd and Moggill Rd) that the Government has examined and found too hard to do anything about.

Cyclists Be Warned

Monday, 09 January 2012 14:18

The Minister for Transport, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has confirmed that the Western Freeway bikeway green cycle lanterns at the crossing on Moggill Road do not permit cyclists to ride on the zebra crossings on the slip roads either side.

The Western Freeway bikeway is one of the busiest bikeways in Queensland and carries thousands of bikes per day. This is something of an anomaly because after previous representations the green cycle lanterns were installed to allow cyclists to ride across the pedestrian crossing but they are required to dismount and walk on the zebra crossings on both sides of the road.

This particular crossing is predominantly used by cyclists with only occasional pedestrians. 

I understand there has been enforcement activity at this location with infringement notices issued to cyclists!.  I understand the Minister has undertaken to have this “anomaly’ reviewed with the reconfiguration that is to occur with the right hand turn from Moggill Road on to the Western Freeway at this site.

I will keep you informed but for now unfortunately that this is how the law is to be interpreted. I encourage cyclists, inconvenient as it may be, to abide by the law as it stands.