Letter to State Government to improve road safety

CONCERNS over the safety of roads in western parts of the Whitsundays will be put in writing by the Whitsunday Regional Council to push for action from the state government.

The council will pen a letter to the state government’s Coordinator General and the Department of Transport and Main Roads noting how an increase in traffic around Mt Coolon had degraded the region’s roads.

There is a host of roadworks and developments under way in the Collinsville and Mt Coolon areas, including works on the Adani camp, which has meant cars, trucks and heavy machinery have been travelling along previously quiet roads.

Division 4 councillor Michelle Wright said some residents were concerned for the safety of themselves and visitors.

“There’s a lot of noise, traffic and dust,” she said.

“A lot of the residents live out there on properties or they live out there because they like that remoteness, and it’s just not like that at the minute.”

Suttor Developmental Road and Gregory Development Road are of particular concern with both roads owned by the state. Council CEO Rod Ferguson said the WRC would ask the Department of Transport and Main Roads to “improve what’s going on there” and monitor the state of the roads.

“It’s getting very busy out there and the roads are breaking up,” he said.

“While we’re trying to patch them up all the time it is an ongoing battle.”

Cr Wright said she had spoken to several residents in the area who were concerned and floated the idea of a shuttle service to transport contractors to and from camps to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

In August, a spokesman from the Department of Transport and Main Roads said regular monitoring and upgrades would continue with increased traffic in the area because of the works.