Council stands firm on Quay roadblocks

DESPITE the concerns of some locals, the Surf Coast Shire council is standing by its decision to create roadblocks between Quay 1 and Quay 2.

On July 13, the council set up barriers to close Glengarry, Inshore, Marine and Centreside drives to traffic at the junction of The Quay and Quay 2 estates.

Several locals expressed their concerns about the barriers during public question time at the council meeting on July 28.

Due to the meeting being held via Zoom, questions were submitted before the meeting and read out by the shire’s chief executive officer Keith Baillie, who also gave his response to the questions.

The barriers will remain in place until traffic lights at the new intersection of Surf Coast Highway, Coombes Road and Rosser Boulevard are completed in late 2021. Mr Baillie said the council’s plans remain unchanged.

“Council’s current position is to keep the current conditions in place and assess how they are working.”

Zoe Lewis was one of six people to send questions to council regarding the Quay barriers. She asked if the council agreed the planned long-term use of the barriers was “unusual and inappropriate”.

Mr Baillie responded that the barriers were an economic option. “The use of the barriers to close roads for a period of weeks or months is unusual, but not necessarily inappropriate. Council has tried to implement the road closures in a pragmatic manner that minimises the cost to ratepayers.” Mr Baillie also responded to another question from Ms Lewis regarding the lack of consultation on the barriers’ implantation. “The decision to implement the road closures was made by me as chief executive to enable the Quay 2 development to progress to assist purchasers of land in that estate.

“The decision relates to managing compliance with a planning permit and as such, it was appropriate for a senior officer to make the decision.”

The council did, however, show a willingness to consider different ideas for managing the traffic in the region. Kate Douglas asked whether council considered creating pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Merrijig Drive and Fischer Street.

Mr Baillie said this might be investigated as a future option.

“This has not been considered at this time. Council will monitor this intersection and other nearby roads and this may be something to keep in mind for future reviews.”

Mr Baille also said the council would be putting in traffic counters to monitor traffic flow in different streets and evaluate what effect the barriers have had.