School students and elderly unite to oppose Coomera Connector

A state government plan to build a second M1 through parts of a southside suburb has united young and old in opposition.

A STATE government plan to build a second M1 through parts of Eagleby has united young and old in opposition.

Eagleby State School student Aldrin Micaya, 10, put his concerns down on paper in a heartfelt letter detailing how he expects the road to affect his community.

Palm Lake Resort Eagleby residents have united in opposition to plans to build a Second M1 through their suburb.

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Eagleby State School student Aldrin Micaya has penned a heartfelt letter about the Coomera Connector.

“My heart and soul is slowly fading away by the government’s decision to destroy and replace important areas with a six-lane commuter highway,” he wrote.

“As an Eagleby community member aged 10, I am dissatisfied of how ignorant the government is. Why are we choosing transport over community and our environment?

“Are we not conscious of our carbon footprint and how we could help save planet Earth.

“Wondrous places like the Eagleby Wetlands will be entirely destroyed.”

Aldrin also said he was concerned other students would not be able to experience the Eagleby Wetlands if the road went through.

His concerns were backed up by 600 residents at the nearby Palm Lake Resort Eagleby.

Palm Lake Resort Eagleby spokeswoman Marilyn Goodwin said the road would go around two sides of the complex, across wetlands and flood plains, causing a potential loss of value to properties and a loss of amenity.

Eagleby State School students are concerned about a proposal to build a highway through Eagleby.

“The peaceful, rural aspect will be lost and noise and visual pollution will be a constant,” she said.

“Traffic along Fryar Road, Eagleby, will greatly increase as it passes the two primary schools, the child care centres and the front entrance to Palm Lake Resort.

“Residents saw the effects of the 2017 flood at first hand as the Logan River spread its way across to Eagleby Road.

“The prospect of an elevated road and the disruption to the flood plain is of great concern.”

But Macalister MP Melissa McMahon said the state government had no commitment to build the Coomera Connector and the proposed corridor “is just that — a proposal”.

“There are many studies, including environmental and social impact studies, particularly at the northern end, that have to be completed before a final alignment would be decided,” Ms McMahon said.

“Public consultation, due to start in the second half of 2019, will also inform us of future planning processes.”

Palm Lake Resort Residents joined the Eagleby Community and Wetlands Group to oppose the road through Eagleby.

The Eagleby Community and Wetlands Group holds regular meetings to discuss the road’s impact and a subgroup is working through a detailed environmental impact study, while another group is investigating alternative routes.