Angry residents protest about more street closures in Coast’s worst transport upgrade

Residents including a man with a terminal illness fear emergency vehicles will be delayed entering their suburban street as road closures continue at the city’s worst traffic upgrade.

Residents including a man with a terminal illness fear emergency vehicles will be delayed entering their suburban street as road closures continue at the city’s worst traffic upgrade.

More than 20 Ashmore property owners at a street corner protest on Monday morning were furious after Gold Coast City Council wrote to them about stopping turning options from their suburban street onto a main road.

The City is maintaining the decision is for safety reasons and emergency vehicles are a priority in planning and can get access 400m away.

A Parasol Street resident who has traffic qualifications has a vehicle count machine which shows 8225 cars had passed his home in 40 hours in what was once a quiet street.

The Cotlew-Wardoo streets upgrade, started in 2021 with a budget that has blown out to $19 million, has turned Parasol Street into a “rat run” as motorists dodge roundabout closures.

“For emergency vehicles, the fire brigade, because of the extra distance to just get to my house – two kilometres extra – the home will most likely burn down before the fire engine can find us in Parasol Street,” the resident told council.

Ashmore residents gather to protest their closure of their street as part of the marathon Cotlew Street roadworks.

In an email sent to city transport project officers, the resident who has asked not to be identfied explained the impact of not allowing vehicles to complete a U-turn and access streets to the right heading east along Wardoo Street.

“As there is no U-turn allowed at the new intersection on Cotlew and Wardoo streets, the ambo again will have to travel the extra kilometres to get to me. I am terminally ill and I will most likely need an ambo in the near future,” he wrote.

“You and your team have ruined our street and that will affect values. How dare you do this to us. Really, who do you think you are for even thinking that it is safer.”

A City spokesperson said: “The decision to permanently close the median was made to enhance safety for all road users. Emergency Service access is a priority in all traffic planning matters and there is a U-turn facility 200m west (at the Cotlew Street and Lindal Street intersection) and there will be one 400m east of Parasol Street (at the new Wardoo Street and Cotlew Street intersection).”

Parasol Street resident Drew Barrett, who organised the protest, said he had contacted Southport councillor Brooke Patterson and asked for the safety risk assessment on the street.

Ashmore resident Drew Barrett explaining the closing of local roads as part of the Cotlew Street upgrades as residents protest about the inconvenience.

“We’ve got traffic problems because of the road works and that’s the only thing I can figure is the congestion, it has nothing to do with safety.” he said.

“I've never ever seen an accident here at all. Their kneejerk reaction is to put cotton wool around us all and protect us from a risk that’s not a risk.

“Residents are angry, angry there was no consultation. Angry that there is another intersection closure along here, angry over the period of time that the roadworks are happening. We have every single vehicle doing the rat run through Parasol Street.

“There are days were it takes five to ten minutes to back out of our driveways.”

Cr Patterson said the late stage safety issues at Cotlew and Parasol streets as determined by City engineers were due to the original design not ensuring a suitable gradient on all intersections.

“This tight gradient is a result of bike lanes being added into the design. No elected representatives requested bike lanes, nor did the community. Bike lanes should never be included at the expense of normal traffic and local road users,” she said.

Southport city councillor Brooke Patterson (pictured right) updating residents on Cotlew Street roadworks at Ashmore.

“An engineering officer recently informed me that he had in fact requested an independent external assessment of the roadworks design at the outset. His seniors declined – deeming it not necessary. If only they had listened to his advice before starting on this project.

“This is just not good enough. Had the most senior council bureaucrats listened to their own staff, to elected representatives and the community, the current flaws, delays, and increased costs would not have occurred.

“When I asked the Head of the Project why they are making the changes now, he said it was because the community would be upset with them if they came back again after the Cotlew Street works were complete.

“Well too late for that, the community is already upset and would much prefer a bit of consideration at this stage.”
Ms Patterson said she was arranging for another community session for residents and had asked the chief engineer or head of infrastructure to attend and answer to the community.

Ms Patterson on Tuesday in a Facebook post said the Cotlew-Wardoo traffic lights once opened, would have a U-turn facility.

She has organised an update for residents at Sweetgum Park on Wednesday at 4.30pm.

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