Marian residents demand Mackay council seal Powells Rd

Residents demanding action to upgrade a road they say is dangerous and damages their vehicles have had hopes for an upgrade dashed. Read why the council said no to the petition.

Residents demanding a fix to an unsealed road they say is dangerous have had their hopes for upgrades dashed.

Their anger was woven through letters parcelled with a petition to Mackay Regional Council for it to carry through on its more than 10-year-old commitment to seal Powells Rd in Marian, between Rocky Waterholes Wollingford Rd and Vellas Rd.

The petition was submitted in November and, during December, council officers undertook traffic management assessments to gauge use levels and other factors.

Powells Rd resident Cassandra Walton wrote dust from the unsealed road in “terrible condition” was affecting air quality and the rainwater supplies they depended on and it was too dangerous to walk her two young children.

“Next issue is the wear and tear on our vehicles … even though the road gets graded once a year, within a week it is back to being full of corrugation, potholes (and loose gravel) on the sides of the road where we must drive if another car is passing us.

“Not only this, but blown tires from the sharp rocks, which I’ve had three of in the past 12 months, cracked windscreens … and chips and dents from rock spray.”

Sixty people have petitioned to get Mackay Regional Council to immediately seal Powells Rd in Marian. Picture: Queensland Globe

Fellow Powells Rd resident Madison Abela said she was sent into coughing fits while exercising along the road and a rock from a passing vehicle once struck her on the collarbone.

Mum Malinda Moffatt said the dust was causing allergies and illness in her household as well as placing her 10-year-old son at risk of being run over after getting off the bus because of the clouded visibility.

The council, at its first meeting of 2022, determined there was “limited justification for any upgrade”.

“The basis of the petition is to address general road condition including issues associated with vehicle damage, dust and safety issues during wet weather and quoting increased resident numbers as the driving force,” council’s engineering and commercial infrastructure director Jason Devitt said.

“The area is not within the current urban footprint so future development would be limited to that of a rural zone.

“Traffic counts undertaken in the period December 15, 2021, to January 11, 2022, indicate two-way traffic counts on the subject road of 165.9 vehicles per day (vpd) for the five-day average movement and 155.5 vpd for the seven-day average.

“Traffic volumes indicated show no significant increase in volumes to previous counts undertaken in May 2015.

“Given the traffic volumes and land use in this area, the current standard is representative of numerous other roads within the rural environment.”

Multiple residents said motorists including emergency services were using the road as a shortcut between the Peak Downs Highway and Marian.

Trans North Bus and Coach depot manager Carmel Evetts said they had noticed more traffic on the section of road which was often in disrepair.

“Therefore I would like to submit a recommendation to have the road sealed from Rocky Waterholes Wollingford Rd all the way (through to) Kennys Rd, Marian,” Ms Evetts wrote.

“The town of Marian and its surrounding small acreage blocks are expanding all the time and this would alleviate some of the Mackay Eungella Rd traffic as well.”

Simon Mattsson with wife Sue and children Luke and Sophie are one of the families living along Powells Rd in Marian. Picture: Summer Rain Photography

A conceptual assessment of upgrading the 1.39km section of road would cost more than $1m, Mr Devitt said.

“The basis of the petition appears to be road conditions, damage due to the unsealed surface and dust generation and safety during wet weather again related to the unsealed surface,” he said.

“Given the low traffic volumes and the fact that the road sections are inspected and maintained in accordance with adopted unsealed road maintenance practices, there appears to be little justification for sealing of these road sections at least on the basis of traffic carrying functionality.

“There may be some amenity basis for the sealing but given the nature and land use of the site, it is no different than many other rural areas and roads and moves towards sealing may establish an unwanted precedent.

“In addition, given current financial demands and alternative projects, very low priority could be attributed to this project.”

The council on Thursday resolved to continue maintaining the road but would not upgrade it in line with the petition’s request.

Originally published as Marian residents demand Mackay council seal Powells Rd