Childcare CEO who’s invested millions in new centre fears Northern Transitway could ‘cruel’ business

A company CEO says a State Government plan to ban all ‘non-signalised’ right-hand turns along Gympie Rd to facilitate priority bus lanes could cruel his business.

A CHILDCARE centre boss says a State Government bans on all ‘non-signalised’ right-hand turns along Gympie Rd to facilitate priority bus lanes could “cruel” his business.

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The State Government wants motorists to make U-turns at traffic lights to access the opposite side of Gympie Rd, along a 2.3km stretch, as part of the Northern Transitway (NT).

Kids Club Early Childhood Learning Centres CEO Corie Stone said he had signed a 15-year lease for premises within a neighbourhood that relies solely on access via Gympie Rd.

The early learning centre is on Lawley St, Kedron, one of four streets where residents can only enter and exit off Gympie Rd, and is in line for the right-hand-turn ban.

The almost-complete apartment complex where the Kids Club Early Childhood Learning Centre will be located on Lawley St, Kedron. The banning of a right-hand turn in, and out, of Lawley St from Gympie Rd, could cruel his business. Picture: Darren Cartwright

If the ban is brought in, vehicles will only be able to exit to the north and enter from the south instead of direct a right-hand turn off, or on to, Gympie Rd.

“We are about to open that business in Kedron and this is a massive oversight,” Mr Stone said.

“I’ve invested millions in the business and signed a 15-year lease.

“The access if vital and this will cruel the business.”

The $53 million NT is effectively a 24/7 express bus lane that limousines, taxis and cyclists will be permitted to use.

It will replace the parking shoulder from Sadlier St, Kedron to Hamilton Rd, Chermside on each side of the road and includes the removal of bus stops and all parking.

Construction will start next year.

An artist impression of the Northern Transitway which will be a 24/7 bus land and involve the banning of right-hand turns at non-signalised intersections and the banning of all on-street parking along Gympie Rd from Kedron to Chermside. Picture: The Courier-Mail

Mr Stone said he did not know about the NT until contacted by The Courier-Mail.

He said while there was merit in priority bus lanes, the State Government needed to be mindful of the magnitude of the impact it would have on businesses and residents as well.

The Kids Club Early Childhood Learning Centre has the capacity for 75 children aged from six weeks to five years.

“It’s our second in Queensland and this will be to the detriment of our growth in the state,” he said.

Mr Stone is one several businesses that fear they’ll be forced close or relocate because the NT which will also prohibit parking along Gympie Rd.

Local MP Anthony Lynham did not respond to a question about whether the Government had considered the negative impact the Northern Transitway would have on property prices and businesses. Picture: AAP/Jono Searle

Local MP Dr Anthony Lynham did not respond to a question late last week on whether the Labor Government had given much weight to the impact the NT will have on local businesses and house prices.

“I am hearing the views of my constituents, which are wide ranging, both for and against the Transitway,” Dr Lynham said late last week.

“I have met with the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) on many occasions and have forwarded the views of my constituents to TMR.”

Real estate experts predicted dozens of apartments, houses and commercial properties will be devalued because of the NT.

The biggest impost will be felt by hundreds of Kedron property owners in Alice, Lawley and Bromilow St, Kedron as well as Gallagher Terrace where Mr Stine’s childcare centre is located.

3M Properties’ Queensland managing director Ross Perkins said the closing of non-signalised right-hand turns would create rat runs and could prove costly for small businesses.

“There is definitely going to be an impact on value, but how much is hard to say and how long it takes to wash through is hard to determine as well,” Mr Perkins said.

“It impacts on the purchase price and values and it also impacts on sales and, instead of a six week selling period, it may blow out to three months because you reduce your market.

“There is no way around it with additional obstacles to get where you are going and to even to get home.”

Residents in these apartments on Alice St, Kedron, will no longer be able to directly head to the CBD if the Northern Transitway goes ahead as planned. It will be the same for hundreds of residents locked in by Gympie Rd who will have to head north and do a U-turn to head south. Pic: Darren Cartwright

At an information session for residents, TMR staff suggested the NT would save buses about four minutes during peak hour and would be possibly be “negligible” during off-peak times.

A TransLink spokesman would not specify the amount of travel time, in minutes, that the NT was expected to save buses during peak and non-peak periods.

“Traffic modelling indicates that in the first year of operation the Northern Transitway is expected to deliver up to 50 per cent reduction in travel times for certain trips during peak evening and morning times and up to 40 per cent reduction in travel times for certain trips during off peak times,” the spokesman said.