Request for Council to work with QPS regarding traffic and noisy vehicles on Shore Street West, Cleveland - PAPER PETITION 36 SIGNATURES
Principal Petitioner: Alan Tesch
Closing Date: 13 August 2024
At 10 signatures, this petition will be considered properly made.
Petition Request:
Request for Council to seriously consider practical strategies in co-operation with the QPS and work co-operatively to reduce the speeding and noisy vehicles in Shore Street West adjacent to the Cleveland Rail Station. This may include more enforcement, a FIXED speed camera, speed limit marked on roadway, or any other serious device, as the constant excessive speed will cause a serious accident including a pedestrian death. Screeching brakes is a constant occurrence. Speedout crashes on the roundabouts are also regular occurrences causing damage to guard fence/light poles etc....
Petition Response:
It has come to my attention that you may not have received a response to your petition dated 18 July 2024. Apologies if you have received a response from another area of Council previously, and if not, that a response was not provided in a more timely way.
Your petition was received by Council and at its meeting of 231 August 2024 delegated to the CEO to assign to an officer to respond, which I am now following up on.
Response from Civil and Traffic Infrastructure Asset Management
The Civil and Traffic Infrastructure Asset management unit are currently reviewing all complaints received and can confirm that investigations are ongoing regarding in relation to the Road Corridor to ensure it suits all users and access points. The area in and around the Cleveland Rail Station is currently signed at 40 k/hr. The installed signs are the largest possible and have fluorescent target boards to draw the motorist attention and are visible on both sides of Shore Street West.
Under the current Queensland Road Rules, unless otherwise signed all streets/roads have a default speed limit of 50km/hr, which motorists are expected to adhere to and drive to the conditions of the roads, however Council is aware that some motorists will still choose to break the road rules and speed.
Traffic calming is rarely the answer to traffic problems. Please be aware that traffic calming cannot:
* Remove all through traffic,
* Eliminate hoon-like behaviour,
* Prevent traffic accidents,
* Prevent drivers from speeding,
* Solve parking problems.
The installation of traffic calming usually creates problem which you may not be aware of:
* Loss of street parking
* Increase in noise and fumes next to the traffic calming structures due to slowing down and then gathering speed (especially early morning with tradesman utes),
* Increase glare at night from car lights and additional street lighting,
* Increased maintenance costs to council,
* Increased traffic volumes in neighbouring streets,
* Slower access for emergency vehicles.
Currently, speeding motorists and other hooning behaviour remains a Policing matter and should be reported to the Qld Police Service, this can be done by calling the Hoon Hotline 134 666 (13HOON), or the Policelink number 131 444 where you will be given a reference number. Please find a link to the Qld Police Service Form for matters of this nature: Report Hooning or Traffic Complaint – QPS Reporting Hooning or Traffic / Marine Complaint | Queensland Police Service.
Please note it is helpful to have the following information ready to complete a series of questions to support your request with the QPS, such as:
* The incident location
* Direction of travel and address
* Along with the date/time that this occurred
* Any supporting evidence such as video or photos
It should be noted that Council has no designated authority to police these issues, or any other moving violation.
Response from Strengthening Communities
Strengthening Communities has a strong partnership with QPS Bayside Patrol Group, meeting both as required and quarterly for strategic discussions. Matters such as this are discussed and a collaborative response formulated where possible and necessary. Our temporary and fixed CCTV cameras are primarily for asset protection purposes and not actively monitored nor do they capture vehicle noise level or speed, however, should a request by QPS be received a footage review will be undertaken and relevant footage provided to QPS for investigation and enforcement purposes.
I have advised QPS of the nature of this petition, without providing any of your personal information, for action to be taken as deemed appropriate.
We will continue to work closely with QPS to identify any community safety enhancements that can be implemented, both immediately and in the future.