Two local residents have begun a crusade to reduce the level of traffic using Old Port Road as a short cut to and from town.
Tim Marks, a civil engineer, and wife Roz, have written a detailed submission on behalf of concerned residents of the area which has been sent to Infrastructure Services general manager of Cairns Regional Council, Ross McKim.
Mr and Mrs Marks, who purchased a property in Birdwing street in 2007, say that the majority of vehicles using Old Port Road do not need to be there.
"The only vehicles that should use Old Port Road are those vehicles accessing the various residential properties.
POLL - Should commercial vehicles be banned from Old Port Rd?
POLL RESULTS: 157 Yes : 152 No
POLL CLOSED: 8 August 2011
"The properties to the Craiglie end of Old Port Road may be developed into additional light commercial use. This will further increase the volume of commercial traffic using the Old Port Road route as a short cut into town."
The couple say noise from the increasing number of vehicles including buses, trucks, and motorbikes is having an adverse affect on property prices in the area.
"The large increase in traffic, and in particular heavy vehicles, has had a corresponding increase in noise levels. The road surface itself contributes to the noise generated by speeding vehicles as well as engine noise, loud radios etc.
"In the current economic climate any adverse affect on property values is felt very keenly...since 2007 the traffic volume has increased out of proportion to the properties serviced by Old Port Road, and safety concerns along with noise levels are having a negative impact on property values along Old Port Road.
Mr and Mrs Marks outlined three possible solutions in their submission including:
- Sound reduction measures such as "landscaped batters";
- Closing a section of Old Port Road between the roundabouts at Nautilus Street and Yiki Street;
- Introducing traffic control and traffic "calming" measures such as 'Local Traffic Only' signage and speed bumps.
"Old Port Road is used as a walking and bike route by adults and children so safety is a concern," Mr Marks said. "Also the speed and volume and poor visibility through the roundabouts is of concern.
"There have been unreported accidents at night on the road and vehicles removed prior to daylight," he said.
To date over 40 residents have signed a petition in support of the proposal.
POLL - Should commercial vehicles be banned from Old Port Rd?
POLL RESULTS: 157 Yes : 152 No
POLL CLOSED: 8 August 2011
As long as Sea Temple stays where it is I'm afraid Old Port Road will have to remain open for busses.
I think it should get an upgrade ..
Like "Steve" beautifully put it "local traffic will still be able to use the road. Should be no problem."
Not sure of the distance but the time factor from Craiglie to the intersection where the two roads meet is the same. For heavy traffic I would have thought the "main road" was a much easier drive!
This would require CR council to
close down the only new visible infrastruture in Port Douglas, the new hotmix on Old Port Road.
I't aint gunna happen.
An official bike/walkway all along Old Port Rd would make it a lot safer for walkers & bikers, especially for those who live near Plantation Resort and @ the sth end of Old Port Rd.
I also think we wouldn't be having this discussion if drivers just calmed down, lightened their pressure on the pedal, and stuck to the speed limit. Safer and quieter for all.
Unfortunately a noisy truck diving at 50kmh is still a noisy truck.
Hang in there… in 10 years time when we are all running on nice clean Hydrogen you won't hear a thing. :)
They buy a property backing onto a potentially busy road then complain about the noise.
It was allways destined to get more traffic like every other road in the country.
I would like to know if they bought the property at a cheaper price than other similar properties in the estate that didn't have potential noise problems.
Now the consequences of their poor decision making has come to light they want the rest of the community to foot the bill with sound barriers etc and inconvenience in getting around the area.
You bought it you wear it.
property is down 28-30% in the whole area not just bird wing street guys, what about a simple no commercial vehicles sign.
then lets fix the mariner and water front and get tourists back into town and that might fix the housing prices, create don't destroy.
by the way thor hit the nail on the head, one crash at iga cook hwy and the town it cut off if you close old port road, as i said sometimes i wonder.
property is down 28-30% in the whole area not just bird wing street guys, what about a simple no commercial vehicles sign.
then lets fix the mariner and water front and get tourists back into town and that might fix the housing prices, create don't destroy.
by the way thor hit the nail on the head, one crash at iga cook hwy and the town it cut off if you close old port road, as i said sometimes i wonder.
Some have mentioned the noise generated from the main arterial roads however they forget that the newer estates along these main roads were built with sound proofing and higher fencing. If you disagree that the noise is innapropriate for the area come and spend the morning listening to the traffic revving it up on their way out of town. Actually, a better idea for all, lets just ban any vehicle that makes more than 80dB of noise. Especially those dirt bikes and big V8's. How do you like them apples?
But any decision about cars, vans, utes and bikes should wait until they sort out the dangerous
main entrance to Port. Many locals use OPRd to avoid that intersection. It's not a gated community
(yet) and would set a stupid precedent.
Perhaps we should go a step further and ban vechiles from all of the roads in Port Douglas and make it a pedestrian zone, and while we are at it lets ban traffic from the highway as this also makes noise! If you feel that property prices have been that badly effected by traffic noise then perhaps you have had your head burried in the sand. These so called concerned residents are very concerned...only about themselves and have no concern for any other people at all. One eyed me me me attitudes are NOT what makes this the best town on the planet, the good old fashioned community spirit of old is what Port Douglas makes it that way. Shame on you selfish people.
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