Traffic response · MCU18/0019

Information Required
1. Provide amended plans with the porte cochere removed.
2. Consideration given to the dedication of an on-street emergency vehicle parking bay clear of the bus
bay. Provide plans with the relevant details.
3. Provide sufficient justification should it be essential that emergency vehicles have onsite access (porte
cochere) from the Goodchap Street frontage.
4. Should the existing bus stop be required to be relocated the relevant approval from Translink should
be obtained and provided as part of the information response.
Response
As outlined in the Traffic Report which accompanied the development application, an entry driveway and
an exit driveway providing access to/from the porte cochere are proposed on Goodchap Street,
approximately midway along this frontage. This porte cochere is required to provide for convenient and
direct access to the development for emergency vehicles (i.e. ambulances), which is critical given the nature
of the proposed development. This is explained further in a separate submission provided by the Applicant,
which addresses the specific operational requirements of the development.
The provision of an on-street emergency vehicle parking bay as suggested by Council would require
ambulance staff using this bay to transfer patients for a distance of at least 20m – 25m between the vehicle
and the building foyer, plus the additional distance to/from the patient’s room. It would also require
loading/unloading of the patient to/from the ambulance kerbside on Goodchap Street in close proximity to
moving traffic, which is undesirable from a safety perspective, and would be likely to be distressing to
patients.
In addition, convenient and direct pedestrian access to the building for residents is essential, noting that
there is likely to be a substantial proportion of residents who are mobility impaired. The porte cochere is
required to ensure that these residents are provided with suitable access to/from the main building entrance
when being dropped off or picked up. Neither on-street nor basement drop-off and pick-up are considered
to satisfactorily accommodate the access requirements of the aged and mobility impaired residents of the
facility, hence the requirement for a porte cochere.
Whilst it is acknowledged that Goodchap Street is considered to be a major road (District Collector) in
Council’s road network, the following points are noted:

       •    The porte cochere would be intended to cater for emergency vehicle access, and drop-off / pick-
            up only. Accordingly, the volumes of traffic entering and exiting this porte cochere would be
            very low, particularly during the peak periods on the adjacent road network. As such, the
            impact of traffic turning into and out of the porte cochere upon through traffic on Goodchap
            Street, as well as pedestrian traffic on the Goodchap Street footpath, would be minimal.

       •    Goodchap Street is posted at 60km/hr. It has a two-way, two-lane undivided cross-section, and
            kerbside (parallel) parking is permitted in several locations clear of bus stops, intersections, and
            property access driveways. Goodchap Street has a number of basic standard local intersection
            treatments along its length, and a single circulating lane roundabout at the intersection of Val
            Crescent, which controls vehicle speeds in the vicinity of the site.
            Individual property access is provided along Goodchap Street to a considerable number of
            residential properties, as well as significant developments, including the Noosaville Medical
            and Professional Centre at 90 Goodchap Street (which generates a substantially higher volume
            of traffic than that which would be generated by the porte cochere at the proposed
            development).
            Accordingly, whilst Goodchap Street may be classified as a major road, direct vehicular access
            (such as that proposed under this application) is considered to be supportable given the road



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Our Ref: 290_KNG01                                                                                  2 May 2018