250131 ACCOM 59 Kabi Rd, Cootharaba TIA_Ltr BMC25044

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31 January 2025
BMC25044: 59 Kabi Road, Cootharaba




Golf Course Requirement (1998) vs. School Camp Requirement
The Approval for the Golf Course development was not reviewed at the time of preparing the Traffic Report (BMC 2023)
for the Group Stay Accommodation. Following consideration the Golf Course Conditions for a 6.0m pavement in Kabi
Road, the recommendation of the Traffic Report for a 6.2m pavement width, as per current AUSTROADS requirements,
has been revisited.

The change between road upgrade requirements for the Golf Course and Group Accommodation represents an
additional 0.2m road width along the length of Kabi Road. The addition of 0.2m pavement width, or 0.1m per lane, is
expected to have a minimal impact on the safety and operation of the roadway.

It is my opinion that a requirement to upgrade some 620m length of pavement, for a 0.2m lane width, is not justified
when considering the cost vs benefit. Simply put, the benefit of the minimal road widening does not justify the cost, nor
the interruption to Kabi Road as a result of construction works.

In addition, please see the below in relation to the traffic implications of the Approved development intensity for the
Group Accommodation.

School Camp Requirement: Revised Development Intensity
At Section 5.4 of BMC (2023), the following was noted in relation to the Kabi Road upgrade recommendations:

         “Alternately, it would be possible to limit the operations of the proposed facility to reasonably expect less than
         150vpd on Kabi Road for the peak-repeatable event. This could be facilitated by limiting group sizes outside of
         school camp operations. This would enable the existing carriageway of Kabi Road to accommodate the
         proposed site operations. It is, however, understood that this is not an option which the proposed site operator
         wishes to explore at this time.”

It is important to firstly note the BMC (2023) report assumptions and recommendations were based on a total of
299 beds within the Group Accommodation. The revised Approval includes 88 beds, including allowance for 8 staff.

The following are noted in relation to the likely traffic volumes on Kabi Road as a result of the revised Group
Accommodation use, as permitted by the Approval:

        A peak repeatable event is typically considered to be represented by the 85th percentile, that is, an event that
         is not exceeded 85% of the time. Applicable to a daily traffic volume, this would be a volume not exceeded on
         54 days of the year (events).
        Table 5 of BMC (2023) identified that if the 85th percentile daily traffic volume on Kabi Road is between
         1 -150 vehicle per day, AUSTROADS Part 3 would support the current carriageway width as being appropriate.
        Base Case traffic volumes recorded and set out in Table 3 of the BMC (2023) traffic report are reproduced
         below:




        The traffic volumes anticipated in BMC(2023) for the Group Stay operations have been revised (overleaf) to
         reflect a change to 88 beds / 10 camp staff.




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31 January 2025
BMC25044: 59 Kabi Road, Cootharaba




Maintaining all other assumptions from the BMC (2023) assessment, updating the previous assessment to reflect
88 beds (including teachers) and 10 camp staff, the forecast two-way traffic volume on Kabi Road are as follows:




The above volumes assume full occupation of camps and back-to-back operation of camps on all days of the year.

The revised assessment identifies that it is on the school holidays, if a five-day camp operates back-to-back with a
weekend camp, and both camps operate at maximum capacity (all 88 beds occupied) that a traffic volume of over
150 vehicle per day would be anticipated on Kabi Road. This occurrence could be expected on a maximum of 8 days per
year1. This relates to 2.2% of the time and does not represent a peak repeatable, or 85th percentile scenario.

It is my opinion that for the Approved Group Accommodations, with 88 beds and 10 camp staff, upgrade of Kabi Road
is not warranted. This is based on the forecast peak repeatable traffic volume of less than 150 vehicles per day.

Condition 96: Kabi-Cootharaba Intersection
The Basic Right Turn Treatment required at the intersection of Kabi Road / Cootharaba Road is the minimum
requirement for any intersection under current guidelines. Therefore, this relates to works at the existing intersection
to meet current design requirements.

In considering this requirement, it is noted that Condition 12 of the Golf Course Approval required a contribution of
$100,000 towards of the Cootharaba Road catchment. It is possible that the intent of this contribution was, in part, for
the same works and it would be useful to know prior to accepting this Condition, towards which works the required
contribution has been utilised.


1
    Based on the week prior to school term and the week following school term, multiplied by four terms per year.


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31 January 2025
BMC25044: 59 Kabi Road, Cootharaba




Condition 98: Emergency Fire Escape Road
For the purpose of emergency access, Council requires an alternate road connection for the site. This road will be gated
and will not be used for day-to-day operations.

It is my opinion that standard road design requirements, which are designed around daily traffic use, are not directly
applicable for an emergency access road. The clearing of trees to enable the passage of a single lane of traffic (bus
traffic, exit only) is appropriate. Civil engineering advice would be useful in terms of the gradient, width (single lane,
noting passing bays are not required) and surface treatment of the emergency fire escape route.


I trust that the above is clear and useful. Naturally, should you have any questions, please feel free to call me to discuss.

Yours sincerely,



Beth Meehan
Traffic Engineer
BE(Civil)(Hons), RPEQ # 8373, FAITPM




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