Horror blind crest near Gold Coast school sparks anger

In just one year more than five crashes have taken place on this suburban Gold Coast street. Now locals have had enough.

A LOOMING blind crest on a suburban street is an accident waiting to happen, according to residents crying out for signage and a footpath.

They say Coolibah Street in Southport, which takes on much of the traffic to Keebra Park State High School from Cotlew to Myall streets, is a hot spot for hoons and speedsters.

Those sick of damage to their cars and near misses with schoolchildren have been pushing both the council and state government for years for speed limit signs, a speed bump or a second path along the road.

A solar-powered sign was added near the school previously, but the Southport residents believe it is in the wrong location.

Pedestrians walk in the road on Coolibah street in Southport. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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Resident Megan Stokes said rev heads regularly attempted to “get air” while speeding over the crest, often losing control.

“We have been fighting a change for a while, the whole road is just so dangerous,” she said.

“Our neighbour doesn’t leave his car out any more after it was hit twice in a year – we feel pretty helpless at this stage.”

Ms Stokes said there was not a footpath or bus stop crossing on one side of the road from Cotlew to Myall streets, meaning children bike, walk and scooter up the street against oncoming traffic towards the blind crest.

A 2018 crash in Coolibah street that resulted in the hospitalisation of two people.

The latest Transport and Main Roads data reveals that in 2018 there were five serious crashes on the road, resulting in the hospitalisation of six people, and a total of 12 casualties.

The most severe crash occurred in 2005 when a driver died after veering off the road about 2pm on a weekday.

“What we are asking for is something to physically slow people down,” Ms Stokes said. “It is a road with a childcare centre and near a school.

“We need more than a white line. No one is sticking to the 50km/h limit.”

A council spokesperson said City Hall was aware of issues of driver behaviour along Coolibah Street.

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Pedestrians walk in the road on Coolibah street in Southport. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“Investigations into the matter have led to the City proposing to convert the current give-way intersection at Coolibah Street and Lilli Pilli Drive to a roundabout, in order to better manage vehicle flows, reduce speeds and improve road user safety.”

The City has submitted an application to the State Government for the project to be considered in the next round of black spot funding proposals.