ISSUES: Marine Drive at Tea Gardens.
RESIDENTS have met with Great Lakes Council to discuss plans to convert Marine Drive at Tea Gardens into a more viable roadway, traffic and pedestrian system.
A meeting of residents and representatives took place along the town's riverfront-road recently to address a number of issues with conflicting traffic and pedestrian movements.
Members of the community voiced their angst about the detail of the council's proposed $400,000 upgrades which first came to light some years back.
Great Lakes Council traffic engineer Wade Holmes, who addressed onlookers, said he was confident the street would remain a two-way system under a previously recommended council plan and include parallel rather than angle parking.
"Angle parking would be out under a two-way scheme," he said.
However, a spokesperson for the Myall Quays Community Title said that angle parking should remain with the option of including 45 degree parking bays either side.
He said making Marine Drive a one-way traffic arrangement should be "completely rejected".
Meanwhile, an 18-point plan has been identified by the Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest progress association.
The group is in favour of a southbound, one-way traffic flow with the primary objective to retain the town's small village atmosphere and add to its "green space".
"The primary objectives are to maintain the small village amenity and atmosphere by increasing its green space and improve parking and pedestrian safety," point one of the plan stated.
Power poles would also be removed under the association's proposal, with other residents urging the council to remove the ugly electrical lines above ground and bury new cables underneath.
Great Lakes councillor Len Roberts said the meeting was "constructive" and the council would now compile a report to be addressed in October.