Push for Mt Nebo Rd link from Upper Kedron fires up The Gap residents’ group

A CONTROVERSIAL housing development in Brisbane’s north-west is getting locals riled up again, with a proposed road connection angering residents in a nearby suburb.

A Google Street View image of Mt Nebo Rd, adjacent to Upper Kedron.

A RENEWED push for a road to connect Upper Kedron to Mt Nebo Rd has met fierce ­resistance at The Gap.

The Ferny Grove and Upper Kedron Residents’ Association (FGUKRA) has conducted a survey to back its case for the link.

The group said the Ferny Grove/Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan (FGUKNP) should provide for a road connection to Mt Nebo Rd once the Cedar Woods ­estate is extended further south. The plan allows a link for emergency services.

FGUKRA president Gareth Jones said: “The majority of people we talk to around here, the local community and our members, tell us they want it”.

“It’s an easier access out of the suburb, for a start.

“The further south you go into Upper Kedron the further away you are from getting to anywhere The Gap side of the area. It makes The Gap Park ’n Ride scheme a viable option for us.

“That scheme is under-utilised whereas the Ferny Grove train station is overused.”

But Save the Gap spokesman Nick Winwood said it was “somewhat alarmed” by the FGUKRA position and wanted to “get to the bottom of it”.

“The Gap’s got our own problems to deal with, let alone taking some overflow from that side,” Mr Winwood said.

“Let’s upgrade Settlement Rd first and we’ll take the traffic.

“Mt Nebo Rd is not suitable at the moment.”

Mr Winwood said the Gap Park ‘n ride only had about 40 parking spaces.

Cr Steve Toomey (The Gap), whose ward covers both areas, did not respond to a request for comment this week.

But last October he said council believed extra traffic should not go on to Mt Nebo Rd due to safety impacts.

Brisbane City Council received 52 submissions regarding such a link during FGUKNP consultation.

Reasons given by submitters for supporting the link included better traffic flow, reducing traffic on main roads, easier access to The Gap Park ‘n’ Ride, improved access to schools, cafes and business at Mt Nebo, The Gap, and the Brisbane CBD.

In its report on submissions, the Council said the link was not needed and would have adverse ecological impacts.

Also, it said traffic modelling showed “reasonably low rates of future use” for the cost of construction and Mt Nebo Rd maintenance.

“The conditions of approval for the Cedar Woods development restrict vehicular access to and from Mt Nebo Rd to emergency vehicles only,” the report said.

“This emergency vehicle access is required to comply with the Bushfire planning scheme policy in City Plan.”

State Labor MP for Ferny Grove Mark Furner did not want to comment until the survey was completed.

Mr Furner supported the link in his FGUKNP submission.