Race ‘locks in’ residents

Anger at Games trial cycling event road closures

CURRUMBIN and Elanora residents says they will be “locked” in their own homes when a Commonwealth Games trial cycling race hits the streets this weekend.

The Cycling Australia Road Masters National Championships tomorrow will use the same course as next year’s Commonwealth Games cycling road race.

Games organisers GOLDOC and the Gold Coast City Council are using the Masters as a trial run to ensure road closures, security and parking provisions are all in place.

But residents have been left frustrated by the extensive road closures and some businesses are being forced to close for the day.

“We are locked in from 5am to 6pm,” Galleon Dr resident Margaret Fraser-Smith said.

“If we were to park our car (outside the closures) and walk to it, that would be a few kilometres.”

Ms Fraser-Smith said the Tallebudgera Uniting Church, where she is a worship leader, had also cancelled its Sunday service because of the race.

Other residents who are shift workers said they were concerned about getting to and from work and some residents were concerned about those with limited mobility, such as the disabled and elderly.

The race follows a circular route in Currumbin and Elanaora and the closures are expected to impede tens of thousands of residents.

Race officials will allow residents to pass through the race barriers in some areas when it is safe to do so.

Ms Fraser-Smith said the frustration of being unable to leave her home had been compounded by a lack of consultation. “They are not even returning our calls,” she said.

Cycling Queensland are in charge of the event but planning for the road closures has been left to the council. A city spokeswoman said “tens of thousands of residents” had been contacted through direct mail, social media and one-onone talks.

“To minimise inconvenience, there is an allocated period during the day where residents will be able to leave their property by motor vehicle,” she said.

The council is urging anyone with questions to visit getsetforthegames.com.