School safety audit: Where Gold Coast streets have no footpaths

There are fears a fatality will occur on a busy Gold Coast hinterland road where young children are being forced to navigate blind bends just to get to class.

THESE are the shocking photos showing young children navigating blind bends on Gold Coast hinterland roads each morning — just to get to class.

Preppies riding push bikes and mothers pushing prams are making the dicey daily pilgrimage along Springbrook Road to Springbrook State School because there are no footpaths.

Families at risk on busy hinterland roads due to the lack of footpaths outside schools at Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The issue first surfaced in 2012 and become worse as congestion with tourist traffic increased during COVID-19 with more locals visiting the national park.

Data crunched by the Bulletin shows 1353 vehicles travel along Springbrook Road past the school each day. At least 118 are heavy vehicles.

This is a slight increase up from 1161 vehicles five years ago.

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In a letter to Main Roads senior bureaucrats, Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates wrote: “As you would be aware, there is no footpath from Forestry Road to Carricks Road.

Young students leaving school along a notorious section of busy hinterland road at Springbrook in the Gold Coast hinterland.

“Is there any funding or intention to construct a footpath in this area as locals are pushing babies in prams on the road and it is particularly dangerous over the one-lane section of the bridge over Kuralboo Creek — and what would be the estimated cost.”

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Ms Bates also asked whether council or the State would fund footpaths and how many families were using the road for school pick-ups and drop-offs.

Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates — trying to improve safety on hinterland roads. Pics Tara Croser.

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TMR said its officers were working with the Gold Coast City Council on a pedestrian count and “strategy” to solve the issue.

After viewing the photos, area councillor Glenn Tozer said: “I am supportive of the State funding and constructing pathways on their roads in and around the National Park, where school students and tourists walk regularly.

Parents check on children leaving school along a busy stretch of hinterland road at Springbrook which lacks a footpath.

“I’m informed that Minister Mark Bailey and Minister Leeanne Enoch both care about schoolchildren and National Park visitors and they have together been devising a solution to the problem.

“Council is supporting this by providing electronic pedestrian counting data, currently working at the corner of Lloyds Road and Springbrook Road.”