Council corrects Brooke Patterson as debate about Ashmore road works heats up

City councillor Brooke Patterson has been accused of making incorrect public statements as a war escalates about how to fix the city’s most controversial road works.

Councillor Brooke Patterson is being accused of making incorrect statements by the City administration as a war escalates about how to fix the Gold Coast’s most controversial roadworks.

Ms Patterson hosted an intense almost two hour-long community meeting late on Wednesday where senior officers, who were not required to attend, were told by a hostile Ashmore resident that their responses were “bulls**t”.

They were explaining that when roundabouts were “saturated” with traffic, for safety reasons the City responded by installing traffic lights.

“That’s bulls**t,” said a resident. A council officer replied: “It’s not bulls**t.”

The officer had tried to explain why a right hand turn from a suburban road to a major road was shut down earlier this week after an independent report showed a high safety risk.

Officers said they were sympathetic to the frustrations of residents after the marathon Cotlew and Wardoo streets $19 million upgrade, which they revealed would be finished by mid-December.

Ms Patterson later brokered a deal where officers would review some of the road closures but they gave no guarantees except agreeing to a report back to the community.

Southport councillor Brooke Patterson organising a community meeting about the Cotlew-Wardoo streets roadworks at Ashmore.

The meeting – conducted in a park with a security guard – was told the street blockages were introduced after an accident occurred during the roadworks, sparking a police report and independent safety audit.

Ms Patterson had earlier told this masthead of design problems during the planning, including communication failures by the administration with her and the community.

She 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. Residents earlier this week protested about exit turning blockages to their suburban street with Parasol Street homeowner Drew Barrett calling for a stop on works. “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.”

The marathon Cotlew Street road works and street blockages has sparked a protest led by Ashmore resident Drew Barrett. Area councillor Brooke Patterson is explaining the closures.

But a City spokesperson said the council had sought two independent safety assessment reports on the intersection.

“Both found current conditions as high risk. Based on the details in both reports, it would be negligent for the City not to act,” the City spokesperson said.

“Recent public statements that the decision to change access to Parasol Street are related to the upgrade works at Cotlew St and Wardoo St and the inclusion of new bicycle lanes are not correct.

“The upgrade of Cotlew St did not change road geometry or road levels at Parasol Street and a bike lane has been in this area for some time – both were not relevant to the decision.”

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

The City is urging residents to read the safety documents made public on its website at www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/Services/Projects-works/Southport-Cotlew-Parasol-streets-intersection-roadworks.

The consultant report said drivers exiting Parasol Street looking to turn right into Cotlew Street were not able to see approaching vehicles travelling eastwards.

Given other upgrades and right hand turning closures occurring along with increased traffic, it was likely more “angle crashes” would occur.

Picture of road works around the Wardoo St/Cotlew St intersection. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Ms Patterson, before hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, stood by her earlier comments.

“The bike lane matter related directly to the closure of the other intersections, as confirmed to me by the project manager, and indirectly to this intersection as road design here did not change. The other intersections were new designs,” she said.

“Although not direct in its decision for this intersection, given no design works were considered prior, relevant changes to gradients and road levels through omitting the bike lane were not considered which may have could have allowed continued access for local users.”

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