The worst pot-holed road on the Gold Coast and longest to fix
This is arguably the worst section of bitumen on the Gold Coast and the City’s longest roadworks program. Just ask residents. See where it is and why so long to fix.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This is arguably the worst section of bitumen on the Gold Coast and the City’s longest roadworks program to fix, at $19 million. Just ask residents.
We are approaching the roundabout at Wardoo and Cotlew streets in sleepy Ashmore. This column is being composed while waiting in traffic as the two lanes merge into one.
If your vehicle is older than 20 years, like my Mazda sedan, and the driver more than six decades old – please steer clear.
Hit one of the many potholes at speed and your car will need a front wheel alignment and yourself – well, a possible root canal on a broken back molar.
Dharam Bhugun, a retired mental health doctor, drives this stretch every day.
“It’s a disgrace. There was an election promise in 2020 to upgrade Cotlew Street. The candidate was banking on votes to get that, and she did,” he says.
He recalls work starting on a 50m stretch in 2021, and only now that section is finished.
“We’ve got a worse road than before. It’s Third World. It’s bumpy, uneven, people don’t know what they’re going through,” Dr Bhugun says.
Has he spoken to his area councillor, Brooke Patterson, who in 2020 was the candidate?
“It’s time to have new blood in Division 6. A person who has a vision and compassion for residents,” he replies.
Dr Bhugun spoke to Division 6 candidate Sam Delmege who met with residents.
Ms Delmege recalls driving back from the Foo Fighters concert in Brisbane last year when the jackhammers were going at the roadworks about 1.30am.
“They (the council) have changed the timeline to the end of 2024/25 but still really there is no finish in sight of the roadworks,” she says.
“People are frustrated with the traffic banked up, the debris going into everybody’s properties, the noise levels around it. People are just frustrated with it being overtime and over budget.”
After parking the Mazda to photograph the roadworks, a council worker approaches me.
“People are yelling out (abuse) to the boys on site,” he says.
“We are helping residents (at Wongawallen) with their yard and debris (after the Christmas storm). It’s disappointing our councillors haven’t put it out there, that’s why we are not here.”
Cr Patterson earlier this month posted on Facebook that workers had been relocated for storm work and would return at the end of the month.
“As to the road management, witches hats set-up etc, there are strict state rules with which the City must comply, no matter how unhelpful and impracticable they may seem to you and me,” she wrote.
City CEO Tim Baker told your columnist: “I make no apologies for diverting all available resources to the disaster response following the Christmas Day storm.
“However, Cr Patterson raised these concerns with me several weeks ago and as such we returned a small team to the project to ensure progress was still being made. From next week it will be fully resourced with an estimated completion date remains April 2025.”
We are fast headed to a March 16 poll. Pre-polling starts on Monday. This roundabout row shows the circular concerns of residents remain on the basics – roads, rates and rubbish.
More Coverage
‘Lives at risk’ from police triple-0 delays, whistleblowers say
Hundreds of triple-0 calls to police are going unanswered and placed on hold every week with leaked data highlighting extreme pressure on the emergency system. Full story
Lawn and order: Meet the whipper snipper whiz employing other kids
A northern NSW teen has gone from earning peanuts in pocket money to taking punts on the stock market after whipping, snipping and trimming a name for himself. Now, his business is crossing borders.