News
21 October, 2025
Concerns over road access in growth suburb
Hedley Park Estate near Kilcoy are calling on Somerset Regional Council to address growing traffic and safety concerns, as rapid development transforms their once-quiet street into a busy thoroughfare.
Three new developments — including the 272-home GemLife community, a new childcare centre, and the expansion of the Hedley Park Estate — are set to signifi cantly increase road use along Hedley Drive, the estate’s only access road connecting to the D’Aguilar Highway via Showgrounds Road.
Locals say the single 800-metre stretch has already become overwhelmed by cars, trucks and tradies, turning the once peaceful residential street into a “racetrack.”
Between the new GemLife community and the estate’s planned expansion, more than 500 new homes are set to be built in the area, along with a childcare centre catering for 79 children and 14 staff . Residents fear traff ic will worsen as construction continues and new families move in.
Hedley Drive resident of eight years, Nicholas Hooper, is representing his neighbours in urging Council to act before congestion and safety issues escalate further.
“We want Council to do something, or request the developers to do something, to ease the traff ic fl ow along Hedley Drive and Showgrounds Road while there is still time, before it becomes a problem too big to manage,” he said.
“Surely Council can get these developers to come to the party with some funds towards an additional feeder road, or fund this feeder road themselves via Highwood Lane. This would reduce trucks, tradies and new residents using Hedley Drive and also reduce the traff ic at the D’Aguilar Highway intersection.”
Hedley Park developers state in the Development Application the extension of Hedley Drive has been identifi ed as a future trunk collector street, with a new dual carriageway road having also been identifi ed along the western boundary of the site in alignment with the existing road reserve.
Collector roads are roads that connect communities to the major sub-arterial and arterial roads.
Somerset Regional Council CEO, Andrew Johnson, said, while the applicants for Hedley Park Estate have indicated a second access point to the highway will be required to service the development in the future, it “has not been provided or required as part of any approval to-date”.
“The D’Aguilar Highway is a State-controlled road and any secondary access or upgrades required by a development will be subject to detailed State assessment,” he added.
Under the Planning Act 2016, Council can require new developments to make either fi nancial contributions as infrastructure charges or as contributed assets as a component of the development approval.
Mr Johnson confi rmed Council adopted this Infrastructure Charges Resolution to both major developments of Hedley Park Estate and GemLife.
“As with all development applications, Council is limited to applying only reasonable and relevant conditions as allowed under the Planning Act 2016,” Mr Johnson said. “In the 2023-2024 fi nancial year, Somerset Regional Council collected a total of $395,000 in infrastructure charges. Council will publish its 2024-2025 fi nancial year data with the Annual Report, which is generally adopted in November.”
Mr Johnson added that applicants of signifi cant development applications are generally required to provide a Transport Impact Assessment (TIA), which is prepared and then assessed by suitably qualifi ed transport engineers.
Signifi cant developments are also referred for assessment by the Department of Transport and Main Roads via the State Assessment and Referral.
Intersection safety fears
Residents are also concerned about the safety of the D’Aguilar Highway intersection leading to Showgrounds Road.
“We would encourage Council too to undertake discussions with the Queensland Government regarding the safety of the intersection at the D’Aguilar Highway and Showgrounds Road/Hedley Drive as more deaths there are inevitable if action is not taken,” Mr Hooper said.
“While we understand that the highway is not the responsibility of Council, the problems caused by increased traff ic at the intersection have been created by Council’s approval of developments.”
According to state data, 14 accidents have been recorded along the D’Aguilar Highway in Woolmar between January 2019 and February 2025, including three fatalities and 11 hospitalisations. Four of those crashes occurred at the Esk-Kilcoy Rd/D’Aguilar Highway, Showgrounds Rd intersection in the past two years.
A spokesperson for the Department of Transport and Main Roads said the agency is aware of future stages of the Hedley Park Estate.
“Council is responsible for determining whether or not the development is suitable for this location in accordance with its planning scheme requirements, and is currently considering traff ic impacts of the development on the surrounding road network,” the spokesperson said.
“We provided advice to Council about potential impacts for the state-controlled road network, including the D’Aguilar Highway and Showgrounds Road leg of the intersection.
“Safety is our highest priority and we will continue to work with Council to support the best outcome for the state-controlled road network and community. As part of the development application process, conditions can be imposed on developers to undertake works on state-controlled roads.”
Emergency access
Flood and fi re evacuation safety have also been fl agged by residents with both Hedley Drive and the GemLife access road prone to fl ooding.
“A feeder road would also allow for access out of the Hedley Park Estate during fl oods, as Hedley Drive goes under water,” Mr Hooper said.
“The main road leading into GemLife (Travellers Rest) also goes underwater during heavy rain periods, which leaves our future neighbours with only the option of exiting via the backroad of Hedley Park, Settlers Rest.
“Can you imagine all the thousands of Hedley Park and GemLife residents using the same small road to exit the area and go onto the highway?”
Speeding is another issue, with residents calling for Council to install traff ic-calming measures or signage.
“Hedley Drive has become a raceway and trucks and trade vehicles, along with some locals, race down the road,” Mr Hooper said.
“We’re asking Council to add some traff ic calming devices, even just signage, to help slow down traff ic, which I can only imagine is going to get worse once we have over 1,000 new people living here.”
Somerset CEO, Andrew Johnson, said speeding or the illegal operation of motor vehicles is primarily a Queensland Police Services matter.
Mr Hooper added that him and other concerned residents are not against developments in the area, but they think Council needs to more carefully consider the conditions under which these are approved, so not to end up with oversaturated roads and residential areas.
“Residents feel that, since the problem is caused by the development approvals of Council, Council bears some responsibility in addressing and engineering a solution,” Mr Hooper said.
“It would be sensible on the councils part to engineer some solutions now before the problems become worse.”
Mr Johnson said “Somerset Regional Council places high priority on road network design and safety when assessing development applications”.
“All development applications, including technical reports, information requests and decision notices are publicly available on Council’s eServices portal.”
GemLife responds
GemLife said the company understands local concerns and has complied with all required approvals.
“As part of the approved development application, comprehensive traff ic and stormwater studies were completed by qualifi ed engineers,” spokesperson Lorna Swinstead said.
“These independent assessments confi rmed the development will safely integrate into the existing road network.”
Ms Swinstead added SARA’s response to Council - issued with conditions - required GemLife to deliver several upgrades including a dedicated passenger loading zone, mini-bus lay-by, and new pedestrian pathways and crossings to support safe access for residents and visitors.
GemLife will also contribute more than $2m to Council for local infrastructure upgrades, as directed by Somerset Regional Council.
According to Ms Swinstead, fl ood risk was also comprehensively addressed during the approval process, with all homes having been designed above fl ood level.
“In addition, modern drainage and stormwater systems are being incorporated to ensure the long-term safety and resilience of the community,” she said.
Ms Swinstead added that GemLife is proud to be part of the Woolmar and greater Kilcoy community, looking forward to strengthening community ties through donations, sponsorships, and partnerships that benefi t residents and community groups alike.
“As the owner, developer, builder, and operator of this new over-50s community, we want GemLife Kilcoy Greens to be more than just a beautiful place to live for the region’s downsizers and retirees, we want to be a good neighbour and a positive presence in the region now and well into the future.
“Residents who would like more information are welcome to contact the GemLife team. We’re always happy to have a chat, share information, and work together to keep Kilcoy a wonderful place to live.”
Hedley Park Estate developers did not respond to requests for comment.
