Open letter from Benowa Waters Resident Chris Yates

Open Letter to:

Residents of Benowa Road / Carrara Street

Bundall Road – Bermuda Street:

Ross Street – Currumburra Road:

Benowa Road – Carrara Street:

History Repeating?

In the mid 70’s Bundall Road was just a quiet road coming from Southport running down to the river at Sorrento. On the other side of the river was Bermuda Street another quiet little street running down to the river at Sorrento.

Then they built a bridge.

Traffic got so heavy that it came to a virtual standstill so in the early 80’s.

Lets add two more lanes to fix the problem.

Now it’s a four-lane bridge.

Traffic got so heavy on Bundall Road by the early 90’s that it again came to a virtual standstill.

Lets build another bridge.

Away from residents so no one can object. Ross Street looks good there is only a golf course there.

Traffic on Ross Street got so heavy by the late 90’s that it came to a virtual standstill and traffic on Bundall Road was also still at a virtual standstill.

Lets add two more lanes to fix the problem.

Now it’s a four-lane bridge.

By the middle 2000’s traffic on Ross Streets four lane bridge and Bundall Roads four-lane bridge was now so heavy that it again came to a virtual standstill.

Lets build another bridge.

Benowa Road to Carrara Street there used to be a ferry there.

We will build a four-lane bridge right from the start. THAT WILL FIX IT!

What is the alternative?

The cost of another bridge some 18 million dollars could go a long way to finding and starting the development of an alternative.

What happened to the light rail? Constructed properly an incredibly efficient people mover that creates revenue.

The time frame between new bridges has diminished and will continue to diminish as the population of the Gold Coast increases at an alarming rate.

Cars are removed from the roads reducing pollution and future traffic problems are removed or at least diminished.

Bridges don’t create revenue they just get clogged with traffic.

Long-term jobs provided are provided within the light rail system.

Another tourist attraction and with it’s flow on benefit is created. Most importantly a visionary development that will have long-term unaccountable benefits will have been created.

BUT WHAT DO I KNOW I AM JUST A RATE PAYER.