Residents demand Brisbane City Council reduce the 700 trucks a day using their street

Acacia Ridge community members and a local councillor have challenged the Brisbane City Council to reduce some of the 700 trucks a day using Watson Road.

Local councillor Steve Griffiths wants trucks to use Beaudesert Road and Learoyd Road instead of Watson Road in Acacia Ridge. Photograph. (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

Acacia Ridge community members and a local councillor have challenged the Brisbane City Council to reduce some of the 700 trucks a day using Watson Road.

Cr Steve Griffiths (Moorooka ward) said an “appalling amount of dust’’ was being left by trucks using the route as a short cut to avoid either Beaudesert Rd and Learoyd Rd.

According to Brisbane City Council data, around half of the trucks were accessing the BMI Group’s Watson Road Recovery Centre, a landfill and recycling site, while the other half were using it as a general route.

“There would be 600 to 700 trucks a day going down that street which is a residential area,’’ Cr Griffiths challenged.

“There is an alternative route along Beaudesert Rd and Learoyd Rd. We need to get trucks off that street.’’

He said trucks were passing both households and Watson Road State School.

Brisbane City Council Infrastructure Chairman Amanda Cooper said council was investigating the use of Watson Rd in consultation with the Cr Griffiths.

“Watson Road is classed as a major district road in Brisbane which provides access to two arterial roads — the State Government’s Beaudesert Rd and Learoyd Rd,” she said.

“Since October 2015, an overnight ban (8pm-6am) of heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes has been in place on Watson Rd, between the Watson Rd Resource Recovery site and Mortimer Rd.’’

But Cr Griffiths said the 8pm to 6am ban was “a joke ban’’ because the BMI site, where half the trucks left or entered, was closed during these hours.

“We need a ban for the whole time. This ban (8pm-6am) is just to make it look like council is doing something.’’

BMI Group general manager Mark Dekker said he had been “working with BCC and customers to minimise the impact of trucks turning north onto Watson Rd’’.

“Other than the sweeper truck and our small mechanic’s trucks we don’t own any of the trucks using the site,’’ he said.

“We had discussed with BCC that the cycle times at the intersection at Paradise Rd and Learoyd Rd were so slow that trucks were avoiding this route which is designed to take trucks away from the more residential Watson Rd,’’ Mr Dekker said.

Resident Jim Mokrzecki said trucks use Watson Rd as a short cut to save five to 10 minutes travelling Beaudesert Rd and Learoyd Rd. He said there was a constant stream. “One passes and another comes,’’ he said.

Another resident, Alison Pickering was so passionate about reducing trucks on Watson Rd that she addressed Lord Mayor Graham Quirk..

Cr Cooper said council was “currently undertaking a detailed survey and traffic modelling to understand the implications on business and industry if heavy truck access to Watson Road was to be further reduced or removed’’. “Council must balance the needs of residents with businesses, so it is important we consider all stakeholders as part of our thorough assessment.’’

Cr Griffiths said a truck rollover at the corner of Watson Rd and Learoyd Rd on February 14 emphasised why trucks should not be using Watson Rd.

“The recent incident where a B-double truck rolled reinforces the reason we need to get trucks off Watson Road and Mortimer Road away from homes and schools,’’ Cr Griffiths said.

“This wouldn’t be allowed to happen in Toowong or St Lucia. It shouldn’t be happening in Acacia Ridge.”