Second M1 path could change thanks to former Staplyton Quarry
THE Coomera Connector — the proposed alternative motorway to the M1 — is already in doubt after State Government overlooked one particular parcel of land.
Council
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THE route for the Coomera Connector, the proposed alternative motorway to the M1, is already in doubt as the State Government tries to find a way across the former Stapylton Quarry.
The preliminary corridor plans for the vital roadway, also known as the Intra-Regional Transport Corridor, place the six-lane highway over the massive quarry at the Rossmanns Road site.
As part of a deed with the Government, the new developer of a privately operated waste transfer and landfill station on the old quarry, Stapylton Resource Recovery Pty Ltd, has agreed not to develop the gazetted area of its site until road construction goes ahead or a new route is found.
General manager Mark Dekker said he believed the Government was more likely to find another route, given the six-lane highway was earmarked to cross the quarry.
“The corridor goes through the middle of the quarry. I am not sure they understood the topography. Having now been aware of that, they are looking at an alternative,” Mr Dekker said.
“We have made an undertaking not to place any waste materials in the gazetted section of the site until an alternative alignment is found or work begins. At that point in time we need to seek financial agreement.”
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The issue was revealed during planning for the waste site, when the Gold Coast City Council raised concerns about a conflict with the proposed highway.
The council wrote to the State Government twice, seeking guarantees the planned waste centre would not affect construction of the road.
In a letter to the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, sent in October 2017, the council notified the Government of a possible conflict.
“The gazettal crosses the subject site and the proposal may have a potential impact on the function and integrity of the corridor,” the council warned.
The council sought confirmation the planned recycling centre would not affect the road development.
In April the council again wrote to the State Government seeking confirmation the Coomera Corridor would not be affected, before it could approve the plan.
“Council officers respectfully request confirmation that the department had no objection to the proposed development, and that the proposal does not compromise the ability to provide the future IRTC,” the letter read.
Acting Mayor Donna Gates said yesterday the council was determined to get confirmation the Coomera Connector would not be affected before approving plans for the waste centre.
“I had refused to sign off on it until there was clarity from the state that it would not impact the build,” Cr Gates said.
“I wanted to be certain that the State Government had checked where they were putting the road.
“Council would be reluctant to approve anything that in any way compromises the build.
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“We fought over a period of 12 months to get that reassurance from the state on this.”
The offices of Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Minister Cameron Dick would not say why the major transport corridor had been placed over a quarry, or why the council had to notify them twice about a possible conflict.
They also did not confirm if they intended continuing to build over the old quarry.
But a Palaszczuk Government spokesman said the approved waste resource development would not impact the road project.
“This council-approved development in the Coomera Connector’s gazetted corridor will not affect the delivery of this future road connection for the northern Gold Coast,” the spokesman said.
The Palaszczuk Government has committed $5 million to planning the Coomera Connector.
Work on the waste resource centre is to begin soon.
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