‘Freeway’ built in the middle of nowhere

Residents on a quiet suburban road are mystified after two huge lights and a vast section of bitumen were built outside a new estate.

Google Earth image of the Witty Rd/Church Rd, Moggill, area where the Hawkesbury Rise Estate is being built

RESIDENTS on a quiet Moggill road are mystified and angry after two huge “freeway’’ lights and a four-lane-width section of bitumen were built outside a new estate.

Witty Rd residents said the dead-end road was only two lanes for the rest of its length until Council widened a 200m stretch.

Neighbour Simon Ingram estimated that section carried fewer than a dozen cars per day, as it was zoned rural residential.

The owner of an approximately 1ha block adjacent to the road works plans to subdivide the property into about 20 lots for a project called Hawkesbury Rise Estate.

“That still does not justify what has been done,’’ Mr Ingram said.

‘The people who live next door can’t sleep at night because of the brightness of the lights, which are big freeway-style overhead lights.

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“They were told by a Council officer that the road had to be widened because it might become a through road at some point in the future.

“But that makes absolutely no sense at all because Church Rd, which runs parallel to Witty and is only a few houses over, is already a through road.’’

Mr Ingram said they were told by the Council officer that the lights could not be removed until the estate was finished, but no reason for that was given.

Ironically, the Hawkesbury Rise sales spiel boasts about the quiet, natural feel of the site.

“Contact us today about this exclusive new land release in a beautiful rural area,’’ the estate’s Facebook page reads.

“Uniquely situated, this subdivision adjoins 5.5 acres (2ha) of protected koala habitat which can never be built out.’’

A Council spokesman said BCC did not have plans to connect Witty and Moggill roads.

“A condition of the Hawkesbury Rise Estate development was to install a new footpath, kerb and channelling and widen the width of the road to make the street more safe and accessible,’’ he said.

“A bike lane has also been introduced along sections of the road.

“Council has not placed any requirements for the developer to install street lights.

“Any street lights must be installed to Energex specification.’’