New Warwick development causes major traffic overflow in narrow street

The residents of a narrow Warwick street are fed up with the influx of traffic from a nearby development that has resulted in more than 200 cars a day fly by. Full details here.

The 64 carparks of the Warwick Home and Life precinct have already outgrown the commercial development, causing customers to park in the narrow Oak Ave.

A once quiet Warwick street has seen a major influx of traffic since the opening of a nearby development, with reports of up to 229 vehicles passing through the narrow street.

Residents have been left less than impressed since the site opened to the public, witnessing near misses and copping verbal abuse from road users.

The mass exodus of traffic comes after planning and development approvals were given to construct a secondary exit onto Oak Ave from popular new development Warwick Home and Life.

Eighteen months ago Oak Ave resident Taylor never imagined the nightmare her family and fellow neighbours would be facing as a result of the northbound entry-exit of the development.

The secondary 7m wide entry-exit on Oak Ave into Warwick's newly established Home & Life precinct has caused an overwhelming flow of traffic on the narrow, 5m wide street.

“When we purchased our property in October 2022, we were aware there was a development being built and the possibility of increased traffic flow on our street, but had no idea it would get this bad,” Taylor said.

“We used to get maybe 20 cars a day pass through the street and now it’s just non-stop.”

With the final instalment of a medical centre to complete the site, Taylor said she’s concerned the traffic flow will only get worse.

In 2018 QTraffic was contracted to complete a report as part of the planning and development proposals, identifying at the time Oak Ave’s inability to cater for a high flow of traffic.

Despite this, council still approved the development proposal for the Oak Ave entry-exit.

“It’s a significant failure of our previous council,” she said.

“There’s no pedestrian walkway on our street and there’s kids who ride their bikes to school who have to use the road.”

Oak Ave entry-exit of the development facing Wood St after the major downpour over the weekend. Photo: Supplied

With major retail outlets BCF and Petbarn taking up residence in the development, and the height restriction on the Oak Ave exit, Taylor said customers with trailers or long vehicles park in front the nearby residences.

The state of the street’s pavement had already been brought to council’s attention by Taylor, who was told by a representative there were no future plans to regrade it.

The development’s building designer Paul Brundell said in July 2023 that there was a possibility of expanding the site into a major commercial precinct.

After receiving a number of complaints from Oak Ave residents, Southern Downs Regional Council is now undertaking community consultation to determine a solution to the overflow of traffic.

After initial consultations with residents, council identified three potential solutions which included designating Oak Ave as a one-way street, placing speed humps to reduce traffic speed and reducing the speed limit from 50km/h to 40km/h.

Residents will have until February 1 to make their decision which will see a trial period of six months before a permanent solution is determined.