Features
Some of us prefer going in circles
Alan Lander 10th February 2010
A SUNSHINE Coast councillor wants to bring Noosa-style streetscaping and its roundabout “culture” south rather than take traffic lights north.
Councillor Chris Thompson said he would also like to see traffic lights replaced at places like Wises Road in Maroochydore.
Cr Thompson, along with northern Councillor Lew Brennan, also sought to reassure Noosa residents that despite council amalgamation there was no threat of traffic lights being introduced in their region.
“Let me reassure the people of Noosa that we would get better outcomes using your streetscaping down here,” Cr Thompson said.
“I would much rather bring the roundabout culture down here than the other way round.
“I prefer roundabouts.
“Wherever you want traffic to flow you need them.”
He said some places needed traffic lights, but mostly they were not appropriate.
“Just look at Wises Road,” Cr Thompson said.
“Roundabouts are more efficient for traffic to flow, but (Main Roads) won't budge on that.”
He advocated pedestrian crossings rather than lights as well, “but engineers insist lights are safer”.
“But you wait and wait and by the time they turn green, the person who crossed the road is halfway down the street,” he said.
Cr Brennan said there was no way traffic lights would be introduced into the former Noosa region.
He said recent further traffic light installations in Caloundra were up to residents there, but he preferred roundabouts.
“From day one of amalgamation, we said we would respect the individual cultures of areas,” Cr Brennan said.
“If Caloundra wants traffic lights, they can have them.
“We don't want to homogenise the region.”
Nambour Councillor Paul Tatton said he would like to see some sets of traffic lights removed from the CBD.
“There are too many,” he said.
“I'd love to see some taken out, or even just (co-ordinated better).”
Southern-based Councillor Tim Dwyer said former Caloundra Deputy Mayor Don Smith had a penchant for traffic lights but he did not share it.
Fellow Caloundra Councillor Keryn Jones said she “hated” traffic lights and they should be avoided where possible.
But she acknowledged that sometimes they were the only answer.
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Recent comments on this article
Damn right! (I keep mixing up my "dam/ns").
Death to traffic lights! At least around Noosa - where the traffic flooowwwwwsssss.....
And, "“If Caloundra wants traffic lights, they can have them."
Damn right - they can have them.
Bringing Roundabouts south? Caloundra is full of them. They are a good method of keeping the traffic flowing when the volume is not too high and have been in use around the world for centuries. News?
Roundabouts PLEASE!
The traffic lights pandemic must be stopped!
Those U Turns - arghh! Brain damage! Especially when people do them where they are not supposed to! Stick a roundabout in wherever there is a U Turn.
Not enough room .. yeh, right .. good road planning, not!
Wises Rd, Maroochy Blvd - roundabouts thank you.
Consider for a moment to real bottom line savings to the community in lower fuel costs, because you are not stop/starting the whole time. Plenty of studies to support this. That and left turn filters where there are lights are proven fuel savers. Hey, you may not get that excited as an individual about your monthly fuel saving, but multiply that out across the community and also look at the 'green' angle (emissions) and there are real savings, real benefits.
Not forgetting less frustration at driving along Wises Rd late at night - NO other cars or Pedestrians (or stray dogs) around and to suddenly find the lights change on you and go to red. go figure! ROFL!!
Stop the traffic lights pandemic please!
Roundabouts are fine until one road dominates then they cease to work
"but engineers insist lights are safer" - I would treat what engineers say with suspicion as most engineers are just regurgitating what the text books say that were written in the 1970's. 95% of engineers are not in tune with current best practice. It would be good if SCRC could attract some of the 5% who do understand modern best practice planning and design.
While I am all for roundabouts, I am also for driver training, there are a lot of people out there who still have no idea how to use them.
You should not graduate from Uni to be a traffic Engineer or town planner until you have; a. Aquired an open driver's licence and; b. Spent a week in the front seat of an articulated truck doing deliveries around town (like the Woolies trucks) - only then will you have an understanding of what "too small a roundabout" and "dangerous" means" - I think we live in one of the few countries where the Transport Minister doesnt need a driver's licence :-)
Precisely. Both options have their places - roundabouts where you have balanced flows, and lights where there is a clear dominant flow. Neither works well in the other scenario, so slavishly following one or the other is poor planning.