2018-09-11 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                          11 SEPTEMBER 2018



REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE COMMITTEE
1                        GUMTREE DRIVE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, COOROY - LONG-TERM OPTIONS
DOCUMENT INFORM AT ION




Author                           Manager Asset Planning, Bryan O’Connor
                                 Infrastructure Services Department

Index                            ECM/ Asset Management / Bridges

Attachments                      Nil



EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report has been prepared to determine the long-term future of the closed pedestrian bridge
located on Gumtree Drive, Cooroy. The Gumtree Drive bridge is located east of the intersection of
Gumtree Drive and Pine Tree Drive, Cooroy and was constructed in the 1950s. Originally, the
bridge was a vehicle bridge but due to deterioration and the changes in vehicle access to Cooroy
Noosa Road, this section of road was closed to vehicle access and the Gumtree Drive bridge was
closed to vehicular traffic. Noosa Council approved this decision on the 13 January 2005.

Since this decision, Gumtree Drive bridge has functioned as a pedestrian bridge until 2013, when
storm and flood damage rendered the bridge unsafe and was closed to all pedestrians in 2014 by
Noosa Council. The bridge has remained closed to the public and all access is restricted by means
of a security fence as it is rendered unsafe.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Manager Asset Planning to the Services & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 11 September 2018 and support the removal of the closed Gumtree
Drive, Cooroy pedestrian bridge.


REPORT
This report has been prepared to determine the long-term future of the closed pedestrian bridge
located on Gumtree Drive, Cooroy. The Gumtree Drive Bridge is located east of the intersection of
Gumtree Drive and Pine Tree Drive, Cooroy and was constructed in the 1950s. The bridge was
originally constructed as a vehicle bridge but since 2005, the bridge operated as a pedestrian
bridge due to closure of the Gumtree Drive and Noosa Cooroy Road intersection and the bridge’s
deterioration.

1.                       Background

In early 2004 the Department of Main Roads (DMR) advised Council that they were commencing
planning for the shoulder widening and pavement rehabilitation of Cooroy Noosa Road between
Swift Drive and Fig Tree Lane. As part of their planning, DMR consulted with the property owners
in the Pine Tree Drive area in the latter part of 2004 about the possible closure of the Gumtree
Drive/Cooroy Noosa Road intersection due to safety concerns, especially now that the Swift Drive
intersection had been upgraded to provide a safer connection.




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