Road safety and community concerns drive proposed heavy vehicle through-traffic ban

Scenic Rim Regional Council is seeking community input on making Bromelton House Road off limits to heavy vehicle through-traffic.

Mayor Greg Christensen said Council’s proposal to close Bromelton House Road to all trucks, with the exception of service vehicles to local properties and vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes (Gross Vehicle Mass), has been driven by concerns from local residents for their safety and amenity of their properties, and to reduce premature deterioration of the road caused by heavy vehicle use.

“Since 2017, there has been more than 51 per cent reduction in the number of heavy vehicles using Bromelton House Road and it is reasonable to assume that this is due to the opening of the Beaudesert Town Centre Bypass,” he said.

“However, a significant number of drivers of heavy vehicles have continued to use Bromelton House Road and Allan Creek Road as an alternative route to using the bypass.

“The consideration of a restriction of heavy vehicle through-traffic on Bromelton House Road is in response to the concerns of residents relating to the risk of accidents, drivers’ speed and the width of these roads which are clearly too narrow for heavy vehicles.

“Also of concern is the premature deterioration of the road surface, which was not designed for heavy vehicle use and costs our community to repair.”

Division Four Councillor Michael Enright said that since the Bypass was opened in September 2017, Bromelton House Road and Allan Creek Road residents had expressed their concerns to him about the number of heavy vehicles continuing to use this road and the associated risks.

"I've had many residents quite concerned about the use of heavy vehicles on the roads, both for the safety of their families as well as the impact from the noise.

"While Council had been in communication with businesses in the Bromelton State Development Area concerning the use of Bromelton House Road by heavy vehicles, some development approvals had also included restrictions on their use of the road.

“We appreciate that most businesses have made a concerted effort to follow Council’s requests, and trust that if the changed traffic conditions are supported, we will see all truck drivers using more appropriate routes within the area,” he said.

The proposal would be supported with the installation of No Trucks signs to alert northbound and eastbound traffic toward the intersection of Beaudesert-Boonah Road and Bromelton House Road, southbound traffic towards the intersection of Mount Lindesay Highway and Allan Creek Road and westbound traffic toward the intersection of Allan Creek Road and Bromelton House Road of the restriction to through traffic.

If community members have any feedback in relation to this proposal, they should reference 'Bromelton House Road' in correspondence to Council by 4 September 2020.