Gold Coast traffic: Demands for urgent intervention from Google to solve Varsity Lakes traffic chaos

This small carpark is at the heart of calls for an “urgent intervention” from Google to solve traffic chaos in a Gold Coast suburb, with locals fearing a child could be hurt. READ THE STUNNING REPORT

A GOLD Coast councillor wants the world’s biggest search engine to solve traffic chaos threatening his suburb.

The streets around Varsity Lakes’ Frascott Park have become choked with cars in recent months, with residents fearing it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs.

Area councillor Hermann Vorster has blamed the traffic on tech giant Google and has written to the company asking it to change its maps application to direct cars to the main carpark on Mattocks Road rather than the smaller Yodelay Street which is where it directs motorists.

A Bulletin test confirmed that is the case.

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Where Google Maps is sending Frascott Park traffic.

Cr Vorster said “urgent intervention” was needed to solve the issue.

“I can only surmise that non-local traffic is being induced into the area because visitors are using Google Maps,” he said.

“Instead of directing drivers to the Mattocks Road entrance, a search for Frascott Park will direct them to the smaller Yodelay Street carpark.

“The purpose of this letter is to seek your urgent intervention into this routing phenomenon.”

Frascott Park is one of the city’s busiest community hubs and has become increasingly popular in recent years.

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Cr Hermann Vorster. Picture Glenn Hampson

It now features the tallest playground of its kind in Australia and its picnic facilities are packed each weekend.

Frascott Park is also the location proposed by Cr Vorster as a Pokemon hub.

Cr Vorster has also approached council’s own geospatial team to ensure the source-data used by Google Maps also reflected the Maddocks Street entrance rather than Yodelay Street

Yodelay Street residents say they have grown increasing frustrated by the increased traffic into their once quiet area.

The Yodelay Street carpark is packed even on weekdays.

Rose Myers said: “Driving around Yodelay Street near the park is very, very dangerous.

“When the car park is full, everyone parks on the street and because the corner is blind, there is no room for two cars to fit through.

“One day there will be an accident and hopefully a child is not hurt.”

Residents have lobbied council to introduce yellow lines onto every corner around the park, something which has been introduced in recent times.

The Yodelay Street carpark.

Nearby resident Isabelle Sutherland said she was concerned by the sheer volume of traffic filling suburban streets.

“We are lucky to be within walking distance of Frascott Park but unfortunately every weekend there is a party which means countless cars parked dangerously and illegally on Yodelay St,” she said.

“It is becoming so hard to not only ride a bike but also drive a car, especially when crossing Yodelay St from Belrose as it’s frightfully full of dangerous parked cars which block your view.”

Cr Vorster is yet to hear back from Google.