Slow down or lose, MP says

Now that Member for Noosa Glen Elmes has been guaranteed a full safety review of the Cooroy-Noosa Road, he has a message for motorists who continue to speed there.

“If you don’t want to lose money, you don’t want to lose points or your life – slow down,” Mr Elmes said.

He has been assured that police will be targeting a stretch of road that has become notorious for a spate of crashes and wasted lives.

Mr Elmes said he received the best possible outcome from a meeting with Main Roads district director Dennis Tennant – a thorough review of the length of the road and not just the Tinbeerwah Range blackspot, which has claimed five lives in recent times.

“Now, all aspects of the road will be tested and reviewed: the road surface under all conditions, visibility, speed, the Sunrise Road intersection, access points as well as many other factors.

“Until all the results are through, there will be no changes or modifications made to the road other than the recent reduction in speed limit to 80kph.”

Mr Elmes said it was blatantly clear that, although Main Roads had answered one of the immediate concerns of local residents involved with the Tinbeerwah Action Group, the lower speed limit was being flaunted. He said speed had been identified as a major factor in accidents along the road, and said many motorists were ignoring the new speed reduction and were continuing to pelt up the range at more than 100kph.

“In light of the fact that this road is dangerous, this is just plain stupidity and it will only be a matter of time before those motorists are caught,” he said.

“Don’t push your luck because sooner rather than later you’re going to get caught.

“Police will be concentrating all their efforts along this stretch of road and it won’t just be in marked cars.”

Mr Elmes said the review would also look into the need for upgrades where traffic has to turn into properties, and possible road-dividing barriers.