A DOCUMENT outlining a 20 year plan for Canungra appears to be all but forgotten as Scenic Rim Regional Council and the Department of Main Roads squabble over who is responsible for the town’s future.
Local Planning Study and Land Use Plan: A 20 Year Plan for Canungra’s Future, published in 2013, shows a path for a bypass, however TMR stated that they have not put in place any conditions to formally protect a state-controlled bypass at this location, and there are no plans for a bypass road around Canungra.
“We continue to review road safety issues throughout Canungra to identify possible future upgrades in conjunction with the Scenic Rim Regional Council,” a spokesperson for TMR stated.
Council’s Director Infrastructure Services, James Ruprai said Canungra’s main street is the responsibility of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and Council continues to advocate for improved transport needs for Canungra for the short and long term.
“The prioritisation of a Queensland Government led and funded town centre bypass that redirects passing traffic on the Beaudesert-Nerang Road from Christie Street through various platforms is still a key advocacy project for Council,” he stated.
However this project was dropped off Council’s advocacy plan for 2025, which was endorsed in February this year.
Mr Ruprai says transport needs have been among the main topics of discussion at the Canungra Master Plan Committee meetings, with potential short-term improvement projects being identified that could be investigated in partnership with TMR.
“Parking has also been a key topic for discussion at the master plan committee meetings and will form a key output of the planning.”
“Council is also undertaking a Parking Strategy review throughout the Council region that will also assist in informing the parking needs.”
In 2022, Canungra Times reported on Transport and Main Roads (TMR) figures from 2022 which showed traffic flows through Canungra had increased by 52 per cent in 10 years.
Although similar traffic studies have not been done since, local observations point to significant increase in traffic over the past five years, with through traffic a major contributor to the congestion.
