General News
4 March, 2026
Town meeting to air traffic woes
ATHERTON’s traffic woes, including problematic intersections, congestion, the slow movement down Main Street and parking in the CBD will be aired at a town meeting next Tuesday.
Organised by the Atherton Tablelands Chamber of Commerce, the meeting on 10 March will be attended by representatives of Tablelands Regional Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
“Traffic affects all of us – how we get to work, how customers reach our businesses, and how easy it is to move around town,” chamber president Ghis Gallo said.
“That’s why we’re hosting a town meeting to talk through the issues that matter most.”
The chamber invited locals to air their grievances in a Facebook post so questions could be put to authorities before the meeting so answers could be provided to those who attend.
Many respondents to the FB post wanted improvements to the Grove Street and Golf Links Road intersections with Tolga Road, and the Cook Street roundabout.
Tablelands Mayor Rod Marti and Deputy Mayor Dave Bilney met with TMR director-general Sally Stannard when they attended the LGAQ conference in October and took the opportunity to lobby for action at the intersection.
“We discussed the urgency of an intervention on Atherton’s northern entrance, both at the Golf Links Road and Grove Street intersections,” he told the council.
“We reinforced our position that the Grove St junction was a priority given its solution will entail traffic lights, thereby providing some relief for the Golf Links intersection.”
One resident particularly drew attention to the need for a turning lane into Golf Links Road when leaving Atherton township.
“A left-turning lane going onto Golf Links from town would also help dramatically! There’s so many accidents or near misses there because so many cars’ indicators are still on with a left signal from exiting the roundabout,” she said.
“This makes drivers coming off Golf Links hesitant because we never know who is actually turning or who just has their indicator still on.”
Another woman agreed the intersection was dangerous.
“Many families use the Golf Links Road exit leaving dance lessons at peak traffic times 3.30pm-5.30pm. It is incredibly dangerous and stressful waiting for a break in both lanes to dash across, while cars bank up waiting to do the same,” she wrote.
“All while looking for pedestrians (school children) running across the road. We need an urgent solution. This is a disaster just waiting to happen.”
Another person drew attention to the pedestrian crossing at the small bridge near the Cook Steet roundabout.
“Could the pedestrian crossing just past Priors Creek bridge near the roundabout be removed and relocated somewhere safer as have witnessed many near misses of pedestrians?” he asked.
Other critical issues raised by respondents to the chamber’s FB post were how traffic would flow through Priors Creek Parklands and onto Jack Street, traffic flow on Main Street, parking for customers and possible alternative parking options for staff of businesses.
A question to be posed to TMR representatives is how the central pedestrian crossing on Atherton’s Main Street impacts traffic flow, and what alternative designs could improve movement while maintaining pedestrian safety.
“The traffic flow along Main Street could be improved if pedestrian lights were installed here… then people could cross in a group rather than one or two or one or one or two all day long, stopping all traffic on Main St, congesting it all the way back to the Priors Creek roundabout,” one motorist commented.
“Pedestrians could wait for one or two minutes to help the flow of traffic improve. Traffic flow after the pedestrian crossing towards Herberton Road is always great.”
Other people wanted to know whether adjustments needed to be made to Main Street parking bays to accommodate wider modern vehicles, while others asked what plans existed to improve disability parking, including ensuring spaces were level, appropriately sized, and safely located.
“Is there scope to introduce dedicated RV parking in Atherton, such as converting sections of the grassed centres on Cook Street near the Woolworths roundabout into long parallel RV-only parks?” another asked.
A parent also raised the need for a pedestrian crossing on Roberts Street.
“We need some form of crossing near the Library/Water Street intersection. It’s very challenging for school kids walking and biking across town to their various schools,” she wrote.
“I saw several mums with multiple kids and prams trying to cross - it’s a bit of a nightmare for young families when traffic is busy.”
The town meeting on traffic will be held at the Atherton Hotel on 10 March from 5.30pm-7.30pm.
Those who wish to attend can register at https://athertonchamber.com.au/event/2026-03-town-meeting/
