Small businesses unhappy with extra lanes
Sat 15 November 2008
Joshua Cummings, Journalism Major
Businesses on the Sunshine Coast’s Aerodrome Rd and Alexandra Pde have been hit hard with the proposed introduction of a six-lane road.
CoastConnect, an initiative set up by Queensland Transport, proposed a six-lane road running from Caloundra through to Maroochydore.
The $A300 million proposal includes constructing bus lanes on Alexandra Pde and Aerodrome Rd, which will have severe impact on small businesses in the area.
IGA owner Tony Spinks is outraged by the proposal.
“Basically it takes away the front parking at my store, stopping customers from grabbing their milk and paper and the loading zone as well, so if they do put that bus lane in obviously there’s no place for our goods to be delivered to our store,” Mr Spinks says.
Alexandra Surf Club duty manager Ricky Cole, whose balcony faces Alexandra Pde, says there is not really a concern with congestion along the strip.
“The buses run along here now already, what’s the difference whether they have a lane to themselves or not?” Mr Cole says.
Small business owners are concerned their on-road parking will be destroyed as a result of the plan, causing the end of their businesses and superannuation.
Aerodrome Rd Foodworks owners Garry and Debbie Costello are also under threat, as their shop is in the path of the proposed bus lane.
“They’re not going to take into account that’s our super,” Mrs Costello says.
“We’ve bought in this position so when we’re older we can come in with our walking sticks, collect the money and do the banking.”
“People want the convenience of driving in and driving out.”
Extremely Chicken employee Brett Burke can vouch rear parking is ineffective.
“We’ve got rear parking. Nearly all of our locals we try to help out because, at night, we are flat out and all the on-street parking is choked up,” Mr Burke says.
Mr Spinks says he is also against off-street parking.
“None of my customers have ever used this back street parking. It just doesn’t work,” Mr Spinks says.
“They’re taking on-street parking away; tourists and locals cannot use parking areas to go to the beach.”
Mr Cole also points out just how crucial on-street parking is.
“Over the headland there, when the surf’s pumping you can’t get a park,” Mr Cole says.
Mr Spinks says all the resorts along Alexandra Pde rely on parking out the front of their buildings, because potential visitors like to walk in, get a quote and drive off.
Mr Burke insists the Sunshine Coast needs to uphold its reputation, and notes the danger factor if the proposal was to go ahead.
“The Coast is portrayed to tourists as a laid back, beach atmosphere where you can just chill out,” Mr Burke says.
“The impact on our business…nobody can park, people won’t be able to dine outside, we’ll lose our business basically.”
“You need to look at how small families with young kids cross roads…Mum and Dad, if they have four kids, they’ve got four hands.”
Mr Cole also notes the topic of safety.
“It’s going to speed up traffic and the amount of people who are crossing the road, it creates danger,” Mr Cole says.
Mr Spinks suggests a decreased speed limit from 60 km/h to 50 km/h be introduced, and that the installation of speed cameras on Alexandra Pde would be a far more reasonable action compared to making traffic flow quicker.
Alexandra Headland’s Attic Café owner I. Masterman has a similar outlook to Mr Cole.
“The kids trying to get across here, that’s dangerous,” Mr Masterman says.
“You turn it into a six-lane thing, you’re going to have hoons flying down the extra lane.
“It’s just mad.”
Mr Masterman also put forward the idea for a tourist tram to be introduced in place of the proposal.
“Have board racks on the side so you can throw your surfboard on,” Mr Masterman says.
“Make it cool, make it touristy.”
Mr Burke agrees the idea is a good one, and believes it would be the cleanest and safest avenue for the environment.
“These light rails as they call them in Sydney would be a great idea, just cruising up and down,” Mr Burke says.
It is clear many Sunshine Coast residents do not want extra lanes interfering with their relaxed lifestyles.
“Nobody wants six lanes through here,” Mr Spinks says.
“It’s a coastal community…a coastal thoroughfare, and it’s not a main road. Put it somewhere else."
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