Proposed works to better manage noise from Ellerton Drive were described as “expensive, potentially unsightly and certainly environmentally challenging” in a recent council meeting. Photo: Google Maps/Screenshot.
Queanbeyan Council is moving ahead with potentially “many, many, many millions of dollars” worth of noise remediation works to fix a road that has “ruined some [people’s] lives”.
The 4.6 kilometre Ellerton Drive extension opened to the public in July 2020, offering a route that avoids Queanbeyan’s CBD and connects to areas south of the town. Some parts of the road already have noise walls in place.
The extension continued the road from its then-endpoint near Yass Road/Bungendore Road in Queanbeyan East to the intersection of Old Cooma Road/Edwin Land Parkway in Karabar.
However, a recent Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) meeting heard that it is generating noise beyond what was anticipated, which the council attributes to development in the area.
Mayor Kenrick Winchester raised his concern that the cost of resolving the issue could stretch into the “many, many, many millions of dollars”.
He also described a suggested eight-metre-high noise wall as “like nothing I’ve ever seen before”.
“Driving through Sydney, I can tell you they don’t have anything at that scale. … There’s going to have to be a whole stack of treatments we’re going to have to try and find some funding for.
“[For these] people, this road has ruined some of their lives, basically.”
In July 2024, a council working group engaged RCA Australia Pty Ltd to carry out noise monitoring works along Ellerton Drive between Mowatt and Cooma streets.
Poor weather forced the postponement of noise, vibration and traffic surveys until February and March 2025, with the findings being used to re-estimate what noise levels might be in 2030.
It found the 2030 road noise levels came in higher by three or five decibels for nearby properties (compared to the 2017 estimate), while the 10-year traffic estimates were “significantly lower” than what was recorded in 2025.
The meeting agenda states the council has $500,000 in its 2025/26 budget that could be used for noise treatment works, but they are expected to cost more.
It means QPRC is set to develop a priority list and consider what properties need work on a case-by-case basis.
During the meeting, Councillor Katrina Willis called for further investigation into possible solutions.
“The report demonstrates that many more people than anticipated are enduring noise levels higher than were expected at this point in the road’s life. … I guess $500,000 isn’t a lot of money for what we need to do next, but it’s imperative that we get a report promptly on what the options are.”
The RCA review also proposes installing noise barriers (being either three metres or eight metres tall) along the road or a speed limit reduction to 60 km/hr as possible solutions.
However, it also states these options would be expensive, be affected by structural engineering issues or have a limited impact.
The analysis found that vibrations were within target levels.
Councillor John Preston described the Ellerton Drive situation as an example of the need to consider noise during the project planning stage.
“Retrofitting noise management, as this report points out, is expensive, potentially unsightly and certainly environmentally challenging.
“We really need to continue the continuous improvement on planning and to understand these things at the beginning.”
The meeting heard that further assessment would be needed for QPRC to identify which properties need remediation works, which will shape the overall cost and what works can be done.
According to the council’s website, the Federal and State governments each contributed $25 million towards the Ellerton Drive extension project, which was estimated to cost $86 million. (The remaining funds were from a low-interest loan.)
The noise assessment for Elerton Drive is available on the council’s website.
