Roadblocks to be removed in Torquay North

THE three remaining temporary roadblocks in Torquay North will be opened up later this month, with the Surf Coast Shire again changing its plans to restore traffic access between The Quay and Quay 2 estates.

Councillors supported the officers’ recommendation to carry out a new traffic study and modelling for Torquay North, but went beyond the proposal to remove just the Inshore Drive barrier this month and instead voted unanimously to take down the Marine Drive and Glengarry Drive barriers as well.

Cr Paul Baker successfully amended the officers’ recommendation at last night’s council meeting.

He said his amendment was driven “largely by many months of frustration from various segments of the community”.

Cr Liz Pattison seconded the motion. “From engaging with residents during the campaign over the past months, it is evident there are many, many residents adversely affected by the barriers,” she said.

She also said she supported the traffic study and modelling.

“I think it’s really important we re-evaluate what is happening,”

The shire introduced the barriers on July 13 to close Glengarry, Inshore, Marine and Centreside drives to vehicle traffic at the junction of two estates to temporarily re-create traffic conditions for residents in The Quay in place before development started in Quay 2.

The decision sparked instant backlash from the community and estate developer Intrapac.

The shire originally planned to leave all roadblocks in place until the intersection at Surf Coast Highway, Coombes Road and Rosser Boulevard is complete, which is not expected to happen until late 2021.

However, in October, the shire announced new traffic data had led it to adopt a staged approach, with the Centreside Drive roadblock removed in the week of October 19, and the Inshore Drive and Marine/Glengarry drives roadblocks to be removed when 50 per cent and 75 per cent of residences in Stages 14, 15 and 16 of Quay 2 were constructed, respectively.

At its November 24 meeting, the council received community feedback both for and against the roadblocks – one petition with 855 signatures requested the shire immediately reverse its decisions, while another with 88 signatures requested Marine Drive be permanently turned into a cul-de-sac.

The council requested a  “concise but comprehensive report” about the road closures from acting chief executive officer Anne Howard, and this report was presented to councillors last night.

The report noted the council continued to monitor traffic volumes within the estates’ surrounding streets, but the new data “varies significantly from the forecasts in the 2012 traffic study, with implications for Quay and Quay 2 estates as well as the broader Torquay North road network”.

Officers oiginally recommended the council support the reopening of Inshore Drive in December to “assist in distribution of traffic associated with Quay 2 and surrounding areas”, but not permanently cul-de-sac Marine Drive “based on there being insufficient data identifying the need for this action”.

The opening of the roadblocks in Marine and Glengarry drives were to be dependent on the outcome of this study or the opening of the Rosser Boulevard/Surf Coast Highway intersection, whichever came first.

Based on the number of building permits granted so far and a nine-month construction time, the report estimated the 50 per cent and 75 per cent targets in Quay 2 would be met in October/November 2021 and early 2022, respectively.