Frequently Asked Questions
- Bauman Way
- Yeates Avenue
- Blain Street
- Walsh Avenue
- Bond Avenue
- Officer Avenue
- Arthur Street
- The program will improve the road surface, drainage and improve compliance with council’s design standards.
- By reducing the width of these collector streets, council and ultimately ratepayers, will save a significant amount of money both during reconstruction and in ongoing maintenance costs.
- The reconstruction of these streets will help to improve safety by forcing motorists to slow down and be more aware of pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles.
- The narrower streets are expected to provide a similar level of service, based on current and forecast traffic patterns.
What does the proposed Blackwater Collector Streets Rehabilitation Program involve?
Council has identified seven streets that require reconstruction due to their age and deteriorating condition. Council is proposing to narrow these streets from four lanes to two, with a 13-metre-wide grassed median strip:
A two-metre wide footpath is included in the design for both the left and right-hand side of the streets, offset back from the kerb by approximately one metre. The proposed design provides sufficient space for the safe utilisation of the roadway by all intended users and complies with the Capricorn Municipal Development Guidelines and Austroads design standards.
What is a collector street?
Collector streets serve to move traffic from local streets to arterial roads.
What is the timeline for the project?
The first stage of these works is intended to commence in September 2020 and be completed by December 2020. The entire program is proposed to take place over three to five financial years.
What are the project benefits?
How will narrowing the streets impact on the safety of school students walking and cycling along Bauman Way?
A two-metre wide footpath is included in the design for both the left and right-hand side of the road, offset back from the kerb by approximately one metre. The proposed design provides sufficient space for the safe utilisation of the roadway by all intended users. Council is required to comply with the Capricorn Municipal Development Guidelines and Austroads design standards, which support safe environment for road users.
How will narrowing the streets impact on residents’ ability to exit their residences during peak hour?
The existing parking lanes will remain in place, providing sufficient space for vehicles to exit accesses. All designs for this project will meet or exceed the requirements of the Capricorn Municipal Development Guidelines.
Will narrowing the streets lead to a significant increase in traffic congestion during school drop offs and mine shift-change times?
Based on the current traffic data and Capricorn Municipal Development Guideline standards the narrowed configuration will be sufficient to provide for the traffic volumes at these times. It should be noted that the design will not eliminate auxiliary turning lanes that are warranted and thus, impediments to the flow of traffic will be similar to those experienced currently. The parking lane will remain in the proposed configuration providing sufficient space for vehicles to stop to collect and drop off passengers. There will be no impact on these services as a result of the proposed changes.
How will the proposed project impact on commercial road users?
The design will be in accordance with the current Capricorn Municipal Development Guidelines and Austroads design standards and provide sufficient space for the safe utilisation of the roadway by all intended users. This includes commercial and heavy vehicles accessing various pick up and supply points within Blackwater.
How will the savings that result from the street upgrades be invested in Blackwater?
The Blackwater rehabilitation program currently has a fixed allocation, as such, the total funds spent in Blackwater will be the same regardless of whether the proposed narrowing occurs. Adopting the smaller footprint will allow the savings achieved to be used to rehabilitate a greater length of roadway in Blackwater. Adoption of the current width will result in a smaller length of reconstruction occurring under the program.
Would it be more cost effective to maintain the roads as they are, instead of undertaking reconstruction?
Maintenance of the existing roadway is not considered a suitable option as the defects present are too extensive and varied for effective maintenance to occur. Many of the defects present, such as displaced kerb and channel, and surface roughness are also very difficult to effectively repair using standard maintenance techniques. There are also issues with the existing construction that is leading to the defects being observed and these issues cannot be rectified under a maintenance regime. Thus, adoption of maintenance regime to rectify the roadway condition would likely be costly and provide a substandard product that fails prematurely which is not considered suitable value for money to council.
How will the widened median strips be maintained effectively?
As part of the project, water feeds for future irrigation will be provided to the medium strip so that beautification works can occur in future. As a minimum this project will provide for the topsoiling and seeding or weed matting and mulching of the medium strip.
Would narrowing the streets from four lanes to two take away the wide streets that give Blackwater its character?
The existing street width will remain. The narrowing will only eliminate the unneeded lane from the configuration. As such, the aesthetic and character of the Blackwater streets will remain generally similar.
Has council considered the risk that widening the grassed median strips could attract wildlife and create a safety risk?
If this were a probable outcome the issue would currently exist as a result of other parks and grassed areas and mediums within Blackwater and other towns. As this is not the case, it is reasonable to assume that it will not be an issue in this instance.
How can I get more information or keep up-to-date?
Visit haveyoursay.chrc.qld.gov.au and the council website to receive the latest updates on the project. Council will contact key stakeholders directly to encourage feedback and communication. To make an enquiry, please contact council on 1300 242 686.