Council calls this a road?

The Green family (from left) Bronson, mother Melanie, Renae, Lachlan, Darcy and Georgie are frustrated by the condition of Strack Road in Geham.

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NEVILLE Green reckons the road outside his home is of “third-world” standard.

Strack Road in Geham is the thoroughfare for three families with 13 children.

The dirt road turns into a quagmire in the wet, only to dry into hard, dangerous ruts days later.

Mr Green said improvement works had begun on the road four years ago.

“The previous Crows Nest Council and their councillors did begin work on our road, but since the amalgamation, it appears that the new council (Toowoomba Regional) has become so large that simple requests by ratepayers can be easily diverted,” Mr Green said.

“Anyone in council who cares to help can't even access our and my neighbours' pleas for assistance.

“For over seven years, my neighbours and I have been lobbying councils.

“Ratepayers should be entitled to have the individual councillors assess their concerns individually and then, if needed, they should delegate what needs to be decided or carried out.”

Mr Green fears that a car crash could occur along the road if it is left in its current condition.

“The road is no more than a track along the majority of its length,” Mr Green said.

“It is 10-feet wide, muddy at times, ruts a foot-deep everywhere and there are trees right up to the track edge. Trees border the road and if you're not careful, one can knock your side mirrors off because they are so close to where vehicles have to travel.”

A Toowoomba Regional Council spokesperson said Strack Road was signposted as a “dry weather” road only.

“It would be graded under normal maintenance schedules possibly once a year and this level of service and the standard of the road has not changed over time,” the spokesperson said. “It is acknowledged that in wet weather this road can be impassable.

“Residents have built homes along this road on existing lots and therefore no headworks charges were payable by developers towards road upgrades to provide a suitable access.

“The residents have been trying for many years to get council to gravel this road. There are many roads in a similar situation as Strack Road and if council was to upgrade Strack Road this would set a precedent and many requests would follow from other areas.

“There were no further plans to upgrade this road and these plans have not changed since amalgamation.”