Craig

I received an email from the KBP planning group regarding the extension of the consultation period. Whiel I am happy that they have extended the consultation, I am concerned that the study is looking at how to build the road without addressing the principal reasons for building the road in the first place. I sent the following email back to the KBP study team (topped and tailed of course).

I have read your email and would like to raise some issues from your background statements. You say that:

‘The Kenmore Bypass Planning Study is investigating how the potential three kilometre preserved road corridor between Moggill Road at Pullenvale and the Centenary Motorway at Fig Tree Pocket can be used to relieve congestion and safety problems on Moggill Road through Kenmore.’

To date I have not seen any analysis that shows how the proposed bypass would relieve congestion and safety problems in Kenmore. It seems that it has been assumed that a bypass would achieve these goals without any analysis. From my perspective I cannot see how the bypass would reduce congestion. Every day, motorists heading east along Moggill Road will face a choice between the bypass or Moggill road. If a choice to use the bypass is made the motorist will be committed to endure whatever congestion exists along the bypass until either Fig Tree Pocket exit or the Moggill Road exit (depending on how the interchange is organised). Current traffic volume on the Centenary Highway (and its projected growth) suggests that this will always be problematic.

Each day motorists face a similar decision at the Moggill Road/Western Freeway intersection. The result of this decision is clear: motorists overwhelmingly choose Moggill Road over the Western Freeway despite the fact that this is the most congested portion of Moggill Road. Indeed, thousands of motorists each day choose to exit the Freeway onto Moggill Road rather than continuing along the Freeway. The decision to use or not use the freeway is aided by the visual indication of the state of congestion on the freeway afforded by the overpass which is visible before a commit decision is made. Motorists using the bypass will not have a similar congestion indicator before they must make a decision: this will lead to more caution in using the bypass.

The second issue is alleviating safety problems along Moggill Road through Kenmore. Again, I have not seen any analysis that shows how the bypass will address safety issues. Indeed, reducing congestion to increase the flow through Kenmore must increase traffic speed in Kenmore. Given the location of OLR and Kenmore State primary an increase in speed past these schools must inevitably result in increased demands for school zone speed limits along this part of the route. And this will return the congestion to its current level. The only other option is to introduce measures to separate school traffic from through traffic such as overpasses to OLR and Kenmore State, and reconfiguration of the Moggill Road /Brookfield road roundabout. But these measures would increase safety and reduce congestion if implemented now. Therefore, the options to improve safety through Kenmore are divorced from the bypass: the bypass must reduce safety along Moggill Road.

In your email you also wrote:

‘The options were developed following consultation with the community and technical investigations conducted in Stage 1. One of the key principles in developing these options was to use the existing transport corridor where possible and minimise the impact on surrounding properties, particularly in terms of noise, property resumptions and visual amenity.’

I believe that your principles are flawed and not representative of the community consultation in stage one. The consultation process resulted in greater community opposition to the bypass than support for it. This has been ignored. Even support for the bypass is conditional. Support for the bypass is in fact support for a solution to congestion in Kenmore. You will note that opponents of the bypass also require a solution to congestion in Kenmore. Before you can claim any support for the proposed Kenmore Bypass you must actually investigate all potential options and give a range of alternatives. In this area your study is flawed from the start. To have the first key principle as ‘use the existing corridor’ assumes the answer before you have even asked the question.

Your other key principles ‘minimise the impact on surrounding properties, particularly in terms of noise, property resumptions and visual amenity’ are also disingenuous. The suggestion that minimising property resumptions is somehow good for the surrounding people is false. You aim to minimise resumptions because that reduces the cost to the Government and makes the road more attractive. This is the same reason why you removed the Kenmore Bypass interchange from your study and placed it on the Centenary Highway upgrade study: it makes your study seem less intrusive.

For the surrounding people this means squeezing a sub-standard road into an area where it does not properly fit. This means more noise, no possibility of naturally screening the road through foliage, being closer to the pollution and no possibility of recouping the losses that you have induced through examination of the road. If the community is truly supportive of this road then let the community pay the real cost of the road, not just the pared down cost of construction. If you were truly serious about minimising the impact on surrounding residents you would accurately map the impact of the road on all residents and then compensate them for the road. Of course this will be expensive but remember, you are proposing to drive a road through the heart of a residential suburb, severing a portion of that suburb from the remainder. The residents affected by the road will have no access to the road. This road will deposit its traffic back onto the same roads that the effected residents must still use to get into the city. This is all negative with no positive for the residents of Kenmore South. This is destroying a suburb without even paying the courtesy of investigating whether your ’solution’ will work.

My conclusion from this is that your study is a sham. You have decided to build the road and you will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that you are able to present your predestined solution to Government. This is an indictment of the Government and the Main Roads Department. It is also a slur on the Phillips Group for agreeing to conduct such an obviously biased study.

Geraldine

Craig you are fantastic. You go for it!

anon

Good points Craig.

But i think you should also print your email out, and address it as a letter, and send/fax it to all local BCC Councillors, MPs, the Ministers for Transport; Infrastructure and Planning; Main Roads; Premier, Opposition Leader etc.

Penny Behan

Craig - you were reading my mind. I got as far as the first paragraph and had to respond to Belinda from Main Roads with the following email:
“Hi Belinda

I am quickly skimming the email you have sent

One paragraph caught my attention:

“The Kenmore Bypass Planning Study is investigating how the potential
three kilometre preserved road corridor between Moggill Road at
Pullenvale and the Centenary Motorway at Fig Tree Pocket can be used to
relieve congestion and safety problems on Moggill Road through
Kenmore.”

This is not the case - the only option being considered to relieve congestion
and safety problems on Moggill Road through Kenmore is a freeway. This is
not the best option to relieve congestion and safety problems on Moggill
Road through Kenmore - actually it is far from the best option and is far
more expensive than other options to the taxpayers of Qld and the environment.

And so on…

I didn’t get past that paragraph as it is so factually incorrect.

Like you Craig, I will read it in full and respond when I have more time.

Anon is right too - we should circulate our views widely.

Derek - now against the bypass

I have been following the by-pass planning process closely and read the minutes of the community consultation and the available material on the [Main Roads] website.

I am a resident of Pullenvale and the building of a by-pass does not effect my property directly, so my main interest in the matter is whether the by-pass will improve the traffic congestion. Initally my view was that the by-pass was a good idea due to the congestion that appeared to be building up in our area at that time and I have made submissions to that effect in the past, however since the ‘very recent’ completion of the dual lanes from Pullenvale Road to Kenmore and more time sitting in traffic each day contemplating the situation I am now against the idea of spending money on the Kenmore Bypass. I believe that the level of congestion in our area will settle at an acceptable level now that the upgrade of Moggill Road is complete. Building more roads only encourages more people to drive cars and I believe there are valid public transport options that should be considered to provide sustainable public transport services to our area.

I have submitted some ideas previously to this group and to my MP, in relation to improved public transport in the area. I have to date seen no public dialouge on these alternatives. One option was to bring the city cats out as far as Bellbowrie. I believe the number of people in the area that work at UQ or in Toowong or in the city would make this potentailly viable in terms of numbers and reducing congestion. Perhaps there are issues with the river that I don’t know about but would like to see some public dialouge on the subject. On the surface it seems worthy of debate.

The other idea was to build a pedestrian bridge at Moggill to allow residents of Moggill, Anstead, Bellbowrie, Pullenvale to walk to the Riverview train station, thus giving a real public transport option to the residents of our area. All the people I talk to say that they would use public transport if it was available to them and their trip time was not significantly greater than going by car. My commute to Toowong each day is about 35 - 40 mins. Currently if I go to Moggil and take the ferry and then the train from Riverview my commute would be more like 55-60 mins, which is a bit too much extra to make it worthwhile. The reason this journey is so much greater is the wait for the ferry which can take 15 - 30 mins depending upon the queue, so it is not worth the risk. The drive to the ferry itself is just under 10 mins and the train journey is 28 mins, so if I could park at Moggill and walk across in 5 mins then I could do the commute in 43 mins, roughly the same as if I drove and more reliable, so if there was a car park and a pedestrian bridge I would take the train most days to work and I believe many others would as well, but right now that is not an option. I would much prefer to see taxpayer funds spend on improving access to existing public transport options, then building more roads at great expense. Surely a car park and a pedestrian bridge are miles cheaper than the proposed by-pass.

I have also heard that the federal government is progressing with its plans for the Alternative Ipswich Motorway which was ’supposedly’ canned by the incoming Rudd government at the last election, so not sure whether this is true or not. If this is true then a pedestrian option to get from Moggill to Riverview could surely be achieved in conjunction with this project.

A final idea I would also think is an extremely valid option would be to put a commuter car park and train station at the Pullenvale/Moggill Rd intersection (instead of the kenmore by-pass) and run a train through the preserved traffic corridor that connected up with the Ipswich line. This would give an accessible public transport option to the residents of Pullenvale, Brookfield, Anstead etc etc. instead of more roads on which we are forced to continue to drive our cars. Such an option would likely give me a drive of 5 mins and a train journey of 20-25 mins depending upon number of stops, so a total commute time of max 30 mins, in which case I would definitely take the train to work most days, as would many others, particularly those that work in the city. This option may allow train station access then at Pinjarra Hills, Fig Tree Pocket, Kenmore etc, places which are currently poorly served by public transport.

So my view has changed quite strongly against the Kenmore by-pass, given the improved traffic conditions with the completion of the Moggill Road upgrade and I would much prefer to see any funds spent on studies into accessing public transport in our area - I think there are many valid ideas that are yet to be explored that could bring public transport to our area (other than buses, that are crowded, smelly and take up space on the roads) - all densely populated cities in developed nations rely on trains as mass transit. If we close out an option to put a train into our area we are leaving a problem for someone else in 20 years time to have to dig a tunnel to put a train through to cope with future transport needs, so why not look at this seriously now and build a potentially better future, than take the soft option and build a road that only temporarily fixed our problem.

I have cc’d my feedback to those members of the CGR group that have disclosed their details.

Regards, Derek.

PS. Derek sent this letter to Main Roads and cc’d me. This letter has been placed on the blog with the permission of Derek. I thought you would be heartened by others who are able to see quicker, cheaper and effective sustainable solutions to traffic congestion and safety concerns. Thanks Derek for sharing your views with us.

Julie Hagans

We all know how beautiful Kenmore is, for many of us that’s why we live here. We regularly go up to the Mt Cootha lookout to check out the view and have an icecream with our kids. We take all our interstate and overseas visitors as well.

Last week while we were showing a visitor from Belgium the Mt Cootha lookout she asked us to show her where the Kenmore Bypass would be. To my horror I pointed out the lovely long tract of trees that runs beside Kersley road. This is the first time I realized that the tract of trees that will be clear felled for this ridiculous road, will remove a lovely greenspace that is part of the Brisbane skyline that protects our very diverse ecosystem.

Our visitor said she couldn’t believe why the government would want to knowingly remove such an intergral part of Brisbane’s biodiversity and natural heritage. I told her there were koalas in this tract of trees and they would perish if the road went in. She just couldn’t believe that Australians would do this to a national icon. Really when you think about it, it’s just so hypocritical market these treasures to overseas visitors because they are so kovely, but on the other hand continue to work towards the koalas demise in SEQ.

I urge you all to consider adding some of these thoughts to your feedback to main roads and government. I bet no one has thought just how the Brisbane skyline will be affected if the KB goes ahead. The various TV channnels in their coverage of the KB have flown over the area but nothing has been covered from the Brisbane skyline from Brisbanes premiere tourist location Mt Cootha lookout.

Angus

Good points Julie. We take visitors to Mt Coot-tha too and they always comment on the green space they see and love the western suburbs lungs of the city. Why should we plant natives and try to encourage wildlife if the Government and our politicians don’t value them and want to kill them. It is great that you can see the Koalas are back already on the Grey gums after they have shed their bark for summer only days ago. I still can’t believe that Main Roads says there are no Koalas. I am so naive. I think it is great there are Koalas in the corridor and will fight to save their habitat with you Julie! For the Main Roads people reading this - shame on you.

jENNY

I have been walking through the corridor and along Kersley rd a lot over the holidays and most of the grey gums are showing signs on the new bark that the koalas are present and moving around.

It is so exciting to see, thankyou to Ric Nattrass for showing us how to identify koala markings and the differences between other animals who are also using the trees concurrently.

Do main roads need us to show them, it is not difficult!!!

Geraldine

Thanks everyone for the heads up.

I rode out to Kenmore and can see what you are all saying about the Koala marks on the new trees.

Well done everyone! Now you just need the politicians to listen and to begin to CARE.

We must keep telling them.

Fred

Saw the Bulletin article on the Vet Farm. Pretty typical of the arrogance. Reading between the lines the engineer is saying “We need a freeway to our doorstep for our elite scientists to drive to us”… Shame about the poor students who would need public transport. Now that is what the 3.3km corridor should be used for - cycling/walking and a form of environmentally responsible public transport to connect to rail or a buslane on Centenary Highway. That would keep the Koalas safe for you Julie too! But alas the stupidity continues…

Andrew

The Bulletin article was interesting from a historical perspective. It also reminds us that when property is left in good faith it must be taken care of, it should be followed through.

Congratulations to the bulletin for informing the community on critical community issues. Issues that many of the polititians seem to have lost sight of.

Prenier Blighh new years resolution should be to fufill her promise to save the koalas of South East Queensland. She has invested a lot in the taskforce, the science also says that it is time to take strong action to save the koalas.

Knowing the koalas are in the preserved corridor the Moggill Pocket Sub-Arterial must be immediately cancelled and not another cent should be wasted. The communities in the west want sustainable transport, we want our tax used properly real solutions not half baked ones like a squeezed in option that the Kenmore Bypass would be if built.

Joan

Did you see the Westside News this week?

Page 3 had a picture of a tennis star cuddling a Koala and the article next to it was from the Minister for Main Roads talking about how the widening of Moggill Road between Kilkivan Ave and Pullenvale Road has been completed and will reduce traffic congestion.

I thought this layout was fantastic. My mind immediately thought - Good on you Minister Pitt, you have done something to improve traffic congestion that did not destroy any Koalas or their habitat! Next how about the bridge at Bellbowrie!

Philip Machanick

I will be running for Greens in Moggill in the next state election.

I’d like to invite everyone to join my Facebook Moggill campaign group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=41291493916 and also sign up at my campaign web site http://www.greenupmoggill.org — if you would like to help the Greens campaign in the next state election or even if you’d just like to stay in touch. I will be pleased to hear from any of you not only on this issue but other problems in Moggill and ways we can make life for everyone better.

I’ve set up some discussion points already at Facebook.

I’m looking forward to a constructive engagement with the community.

Steve

Thankyou for the info Philip, it’s great The Greens are organized to take on the challenge of the next state election. There are many issues that the current government are not coming anywhere near close to addressing, particularly on environment and sustainability.

Rosemary

The Westside News has an excellent letter written by Craig Phasey this week. Thankyou to Craig and Westside News for explaining what is so glaringly obvious about the state of our local roads and to me Main Roads, state government, state LNP and our local councillor can not see.

It just takes some good old fashioned COMMON SENSE to work out what needs to be done to solve our traffic congestion. Put in proper infrastructure, not old off the shelves ideas like the bypass, from a bygone era of last century.

Liz

Don’t forget that the community consultation period is extended until Monday, 16 February 2009. So if you haven’t sent in your comments - make it a priority!

Marg Bring the City Cats up the river

Finally a step in the right direction. I have just finished reading The Greens policy to extend the City Cat service to Indoooroopilly to service suburbs from St Lucia upstream.

I realize planning seems to happen in baby steps here in Brisbane to meet the enormous growth that is happening. Never the less I am encouraged that one day the City Cat may extend further to service centenary suburbs, Kenmore and Bellbowrie and Moggill.

It seems far to sensible to do this but I really think The Greens are headed in the right direction with this policy. How lovely to cruise all the way into town and beyond. Good one guys!!

Kristie

Thanks for that information Marg. That reminds me whatever happened to the WBTNI reporting back to the community from last March 2008. Does anyone know what the outcome was? I put in my feedback form to them taking the Citycat all the way upstream to Bellbowrie and Moggill.

Lauren

i called the WBTNI phoneline a couple weeks ago. they say the report is still “with the Minister”. I asked how long the process usually takes and they did not know.

i suspect that the Moggill Pocket motorway was recommended in the WBTNI report, so they are delaying the report’s release until after a decision on the KB is made (to minimise KB opposition from more residents of Pullenvale, Bellbowrie, Moggill and Karalee).

Angus

I don’t understand what fits with WBTNI? And what about a western ring road - from what I can tell the deputy Premier Lucas ruled it out from occuring anywhere but hasn’t ruled out the Goodna Bypass. Have they considered sealing Gap Creek and how it will be used as a western ring road? Also what about Northern Link - the propaganda on it says it will reduce congestion in western Brisbane. All this confusion when I just want access to a TRAIN!
I really am very confused. What does Campbell Newman want and what does Anna Bligh want and what will Kevin Rudd fund? Then we get to Bruce Flegg’s position and I become even more confused and amazed.

Fred

We were supposed to get a train in 1870 through this area. Some bright pollie squashed it. Funny they thought it was a good idea back then when probably 3 men and a goat lived here. Now we are going to have a Uni of Qld campus and those bright sparks don’t want to consider it. 1870 was a progressive time in Qld’s history. Got to love the Q2 and celebrating 150 years this year.
Our pollies are all over the place with their stance on things and who knows who the ALP candidates are and what they want.
I reckon if they try to stall this much longer we take it as they are against us and fight them all.
Someone keeps banging on about the stress of this - well fight. Doing nothing and feeling like a flaming victim makes it worse. Do something and take control of the stress rather than it controling you. Write a letter, enter something here, call talkback, or tell your selfish friends how stupid the Kenmore Freeway is… It all makes you feel better, gives other people something to consider rather than being sheep following foolish ideas and ideals.
Well done to everyone who has done this to date and keep it up.

Richard

Smart Pollies - that is an oxymoron - just like more roads reducing congestion.
Love the Koala on facebook. Lots of his Koala mates around here - love the scratches on the new bark of the grey gums.
Oh, but I forgot they don’t exist (according to Main Roads). Just walk through the BCC dog off leash park and tell the Koalas they don’t live there. Or should I say tell them they won’t be able to live there when the trees are clear felled for a freeway.

Julie

Checked all the grey gums in the vicinity of Kenmore rd yesterday morning. Of the trees I could get close too at least 3/4 had new koala markings on them. The homes closest to Marland st have a mature greygum with heaps of marks on it. Those koalas must be visible to some one in that area. Keep looking folks they are right under our nose. I will be personally checking every 2 to 3 days for fresh markings. I have also taken photographs of the latest markings. If you are out walking take a look it’s really interesting to see how much the koalas are using the greygums.

Donna

Government spend 9.9 million on a bicycle footbridge (for a few people) at the Toowong roundabout, but still unable to relieve the congestion of cars at that roundabout, which has not changed in thirty years. You do start to wonder about who is in charge of the money and who comes up with these weird ideas!

Fred

So the cat is out of the bag. Bruce Flegg opened pandoras box and the deputy Premier is dancing in it!

FIGHT!

This is worth saving!

So the SEQ Regional Plan will propose massive density development in western suburbs of Brisbane and what about WBTNI!

I think my good friends of Pullenvale will have more to worry about than a little fire station destroying their rural lifestyle!

You wanted a fight Bruce and have tried to divide your community, you got one and one that is based on a foolish objective…