Brisbane City Council officials have been questioned by Logan City councillors after their decision to fully close Illaweena Street at Drewvale due to Logan Enhancement Project works.
At September’s ordinary council meeting Deputy Mayor Cherie Dalley moved a motion for a letter to be forwarded to BCC requesting that their full closure decision be reversed and that the original works notification plan be re-instated.
Cr Dalley said the road was a main thoroughfare for Stretton College parents as well as connecting road for residents to come in and out of Logan.
Division 4 Councillor Jon Raven said not only would residents in his electorate be affected but more pressure would be placed onto Logan roads such as the Mount Lindesay Highway.
“How did Brisbane City Council come up with a different plan to Transurban?” he said.
“We want to try and minimise the affect on road users as much as possible but they’ve just decided to do what they want, with complete disregard for our residents.
“I’m sick of playing games with boundaries and we need to work together.”
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Division 9 Councillor Phil Pidgeon said as roads chair he would have picked up a phone to call the relevant officers in neighbouring councils if Logan road works were to impact their electorates.
“”I would have expected something like that to occur,” he said.
“But we received less than week’s notice.”
A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said Transurban’s contractor was granted approval for the temporary closure of Illaweena Street, between Gowan Road and Hashim Place, Drewvale, from September 2017 until January 2018.
“These (Logan Enhancement Project) construction works involve demolishing and rebuilding overpass bridges for the Gateway Motorway, which travel directly above Illaweena Street,” the spokesperson said.
“The nature of this construction requires the full closure of the road and this closure has been authorised by the Queensland Police Service.
“Council assessed the possibility of intermittent closures of Illaweena Street, however, traffic information shows that traffic control would result in queuing through the Gowan Street intersection, impacting traffic and student safety around Stretton College.
“Stretton College remains fully accessible via road, for both the community and emergency vehicles, during the short-term closure of Illaweena Street.
“The signalisation at the Gowan street intersection will also be modified to minimise any delays.
“The closure has been timed to coincide with both the September/October school holidays and the Christmas school holidays, reducing the community impact.”
The spokesperson said the conditions of the four-month road closure approval stipulate that it is the responsibility of Transurban to notify the community about the closure.
