Parents’ fears drive calls for road action

A CONCERNED Mount Low resident is applying for state and federal grants to fund a solution for a community risk that is outside of Townsville City Council’s budget this year.

Bonnett Rd connects the 1000 families living in Sanctum Estate with other major roads such as Mount Low Parkway.

The busy road has no foot- path, forcing young children to ride their bikes and walk on the road, which is frequented by trucks and large vehicles.

The road is also raised metres above hard concrete, which poses a hazard where children could possibly fall when trying to avoid oncoming traffic.

Nathan Earsman launched a petition to the council for an upgrade.

“They said it’s going to cost about $ 1 million to install a footpath on one side of the road and $ 5.6 million for an entire upgrade of both sides with gutters,” he said.

“I’m quite disappointed when there’s no reason why this shouldn’t go ahead.”

Mr Earsman said as a father whose own children rode bikes along the road he was worried.

“It’s quite gut wrenching when my children have to travel down that road,” he said. “All it takes is a split second and a distracted driver for your world to be turned upside down.”

Mr Earsman said many families had expressed fear to him for the safety of their children.

“It’s beyond me why we can’t get something as simple as a footpath put along a busy road,” he said.

Division 2 Councillor Paul Jacob said the upgrade was his No. 1 project budget.

“We develop that budget between the end of March and June, then all the councillors agree to it and then we bring it into council,” Cr Jacob said.

“When we started this whole project with Bonnett Rd the budget had already been completed for this financial year. I’ll be pushing very hard to … get Bonnett Rd done for the residents down there.” for next year’s