Bruce Highway designs 'finalised', despite Doug's protests

Bruce Highway designs which are set to put a roundabout in front of a home with more than 100 years' history are finalised, a spokesman has confirmed.

DRONE: Bruce Highway upgrade at the Sunshine Motorway onramp. Picture: Patrick Woods

BRUCE Highway designs which are set to put a roundabout in front of a home with more than 100 years' history are finalised, a department spokesman has confirmed.

Woombye resident Douglas Corbett told the Daily on Tuesday he wanted the plans cancelled and highway expansion shifted further east, as he faced losing about 800sq m of land and dozens of trees his son had planted at his Leafy Lane property.

They were set to go to make way for a new Leafy Lane/Aird Lane road and roundabout, as part of the Maroochydore Rd interchange upgrade.

READ: 'Cancel the whole bloody thing': Retiree slams highway plans

The spokesman said the designs had been finalised and the location and layout of the roundabout had been governed by Australian design standards.

"For safety reasons, this roundabout cannot be relocated," the spokesman said.

"This is due to the minimum permitted distance between Leafy Lane and the Bruce Highway exit ramp and the Maroochydore Rd interchange."

Doug Corbett is angry part of his property is being resumed for the Bruce Highway upgrades. Picture: Warren Lynam

The spokesman said noise modelling had been undertaken in late-2018, and involved predicting noise levels for the next decade from the road infrastructure changes being made.

"Modelling indicated noise barriers are not warranted," he said.

"We will continue to work with residents and stakeholders to address any concerns."

The spokesman said the department would work to minimise impacts on nearby residents where possible, and mitigation strategies included moving powerlines underground to avoid vegetation clearing where possible.

The spokesman said resumptions couldn't be avoided in all cases, and those affected would receive compensation, which was assessed "in accordance with the Acquisition of Land Act 1967 and includes the payment of reasonable fees to allow owners to engage their own independent advisors to assist them in these negotiations".