Residents in Queensland’s fastest growing Gold Coast suburb can’t expect road relief for at least 15 years

A MAJOR connection road across the Pacific Motorway to the Gold Coast’s fastest-growing Hinterland suburbs will not be considered for upgrading for at least 15 years.

The Smith Street overpass — from the right of the picture is Arundel, to the left the start of the Pacific Pines estate.

A MAJOR connection road across the Pacific Motorway to the Gold Coast’s fastest growing Hinterland suburbs will not be considered for upgrading for at least 15 years.

Area councillor Peter Young said he was stunned to learn there was no budget for a four-lane upgrade of Smith Street where the motorway crosses west to Pacific Pines.

Cr Young had secured a four-lane upgrade of a small section of the motorway when in council more than three years ago and on his re-election in March, asked officers about the status of the two-lane road winding into the suburb.

“I asked if they could do an analysis,” he said.

“To my disbelief they have reported back there is nothing in the finances up until 2031.

“They said there was no need to duplicate the road.

“For all the people at Pacific Pines and from west of there, this is the major connection route to the Southport CBD.

“There are 25,000 vehicles a day going through there.”

Gaven residents protesting against a child care centre planned near the connection road were also shocked when they contacted the council to ask about road upgrades.

Gaven retiree Ron Poll said he had phoned the planning department for information.

“They just laughed at us,” he said.

“They said there is nothing on our books in the near future.”

Residents yesterday applauded Cr Young after they won the first round in a battle to stop the child care centre in their quiet rural acreage estate off Smith Street.

Cr Young convinced the planning committee to reject an officer’s recommendation to approve the project in Hammond Drive which connects with Smith Street.

Cr Young obtained the support of colleagues William Owen-Jones, Gary Baildon, Hermann Vorster and Paul Taylor.

Committee chairman Cameron Caldwell, Deputy Mayor Donna Gates and southern-based councillor Gail O’Neill supported the child care centre application.

A report to the council showed the centre, which would have operated on weekdays and accommodate 85 children, could be approved in the rural residential zone.

A petition opposing the development was signed by 130 residents and 35 others lodged official objections with the council.

The key concerns for residents included increased traffic flow along their street and changes which included preventing them making a right-hand turn out of their estate on to Smith Street to get to shops further west at Pacific Pines.

Cr Young successfully argued a child care centre could only be approved in a rural residential location if it did not affect traffic or the area’s amenity.

“They (the residents) don’t want it,” he said.

“It meets the need of a distant suburb,” he said, referring to Pacific Pines which was two kilometres away.

Cr Owen-Jones said he had visited the site and insupporting Cr Young expressed concern about road safety and potential accidents where the road dipped before joining Smith Street.

Cr William Owen-Jones also expressed concerns about the traffic loads in the fast growing hinterland suburbs. Picture: Jerad Williams

The only solution to avoid traffic problems was lights but that would need funding from the council.

Mr Poll, who was in the gallery at the Evandale chambers, said the proposed traffic changes would have prevented residents from taking a right turn on Smith Street.

“I live next door (to the site),” he said.

“We have lived there for 25 years and I’m 81 years of age and my wife is 76.

“We are retired and we want to live out our years in peace.”