General News
24 April, 2025
Residents on edge over second road
A PETITION by some Edge Estate residents to stop a planned second access road from going ahead has been rejected by the Mareeba Shire Council.
The petition, which drew 47 signatures, said the creation of a second road out of the estate would increase traffic “such as construction and tradies vehicles”; increase the risk of traffic accidents; increase the security risk of theft and burglary with double access, and diminish amenity to The Edge Estate.
In answer to the claims, a council report said the continued development of the Edge was in two stages, with the access road plan to be developed during the second stage. This had been on record since 2016.
Any increases in traffic would be inevitable due to the ongoing expansion of the Edge Estate, regardless of a secondary road. Similarly, security risks happened irrespective of the number of road accesses. It could also be concluded that improved road connectivity would allow police to more effectively patrol the neighbourhood.
As for amenity, traffic movements were expected to be limited to those of residents and their visitors.
At a council meeting on 16 April, councillors suggested that it was good town planning practice to have two accesses to development wherever possible as a matter of community safety in case of emergency, a natural disaster or a traffic accident.
A secondary road also “improved walkability” between neighbourhoods.
The report also concluded that council could not amend a development unless it was requested by the developer.
