Truck Loses Load On Lavis Access Road
Earlier this week a truck lost part of its load of timber as it negotiated the narrow access road into the property under question.
Fortunately this was both minor and in a part of the road where it caused no damage. But this is EXACTLY what we are concerned about.
The access road is a single lane, winding road with some steep gradients and cross slopes. It close to the creek and there is a steep slope running down from the road into the creek.
It has already been the site of a number of spills of loads and washes of dirt and debris down into Mansfield Street.
When previous heavy trucks have had to deliver big loads they have actually had to reverse up the first 400 metres to allow for a tighter turning circle at the first hairpin bend above the creek. This bend is just 45 metres from the creek above a steep slope. Imagine what toxic contaminants could get into the creek if a truck carrying liquids or other materials has a similar spill at this bend.
The road gets even closer (35 metres) from the creek at a lower section. See the Google earth picture for details.
If the development gets through trucks and earthmoving equipment will have to get in to clear and level the house block. Then during building cement trucks, vehicles carrying paint, solvents and building materials and chemicals will have to traverse the road. This is when the creek will be most at risk.
Under the Cairns Plan this road is supposed to be accessable by firetrucks. It is hard to believe it could be reasonable to expect firetrucks to reverse up the road to gain access in an emergency, and there is every chance if it were required it would be at night as well!
