Council plans road closures
ONE of Noosa's crucial transport upgrades has reached another crossroad with an application to close about 15ha of designated road in Tewantin National Park.
The closures are part of a land trade-off to enable the Sunshine Coast Council to proceed with its planned Tewantin bypass - the missing link in Noosa's major arterial road network.
The council advertised the proposed permanent road closures in last Saturday's Sunshine Coast Daily.
The Noosa News obtained a copy from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines officer in Nambour this week showing the forest road link closures that would take pressure off busy Beckmans Rd.
People who want to object to the closure have until August 9 to lodge their formal opposition at the DNRM Nambour office.
According to the council's latest bypass update, the as-yet unfunded bypass will be a limited access road "which will provide an opportunity for motorists to travel between Eumundi Noosa Rd and Cooroy Noosa Rd without using Beckmans Rd".
It would run parallel to Beckmans Rd, taking out part of the existing park reserve.
The road would be two lanes, widening to four lanes at the roundabouts to cater for traffic loads.
Work to be carried out includes the following:
A new roundabout at the Eumundi Noosa Rd and Lake Entrance Blvd intersection;
A 5m-wide landscaped central traffic island on Eumundi Noosa Rd and landscaping on all roundabouts and approaches;
A roundabout at the intersection of the new Tewantin bypass and Eumundi Noosa Rd intersection including connection to the old Beckmans Rd;
Removal of the old Eumundi Noosa Rd and Beckmans Rd roundabout to allow for a new pedestrian underpass;
A roundabout at the intersection of the new Tewantin bypass and the extension of St Andrews Dr at the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife depot site;
A roundabout at the intersection of the new Tewantin bypass and Cooroy Noosa Rd including conversion of the old Beckmans Rd intersection on Cooroy Noosa Road into a cul-de-sac;
On-road cycle lanes, including green bike lanes at all intersections and roundabouts.
"Council will continue to work closely with the State Government to have the project funded and the work programmed as soon as possible," the update said.
"The Queensland Department of Main Roads is considering the availability of funding for the project.
"Works will not commence until funding is secured, which at this stage would not be before late 2013 and will take approximately two years to complete."
After community consultation, council decided in 2006 that Beckmans Rd would accommodate local traffic only.
