Greenleigh residents whose properties border the Ellerton Drive extension site say they have suffered from excessive noise, dust and even property damage due to vibrations.
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Taylor Place resident Anna Green said cracks have appeared in the brickwork and plasterboard of her home due to vibrations from machinery and she has suffered anxiety brought on by the construction work.
A Roads and Maritime Services spokesman said the agency was “working closely” with Ms Green after her complaints of the impact of the works.
However after a meeting with WBHO and RMS representatives on Thursday Ms Green said she was informed she should not open her windows at all once traffic began using the road.
She said a ventilation system was recommended to bring fresh air into the house due to the excessive noise traffic would create.
The RMS spokesman said “the resident is eligible for noise treatments which may include the provision of mechanical ventilation systems”.
The Ellerton Drive extension passes just metres from the back of Ms Green’s property and other properties along Taylor Place.
Several residents attended a community meeting hosted by the council on Thursday and voiced their complaints.
They said they wanted to see the council take responsibility for the issues and assist their dealings with WBHO.
Ms Green said the first issue she noticed was dust, which began in February. She said if she went into her backyard she could taste and feel dust and said it had flared up a long-term sinus condition she has, while her 12-year-old daughter reported having itchy eyes.
She said she has not been able to hang washing outside since February, has had to keep all doors and windows closed and her family has been unable to use their deck.
According to Ms Green, who is at home most of the day, she endured weeks of construction noise and vibrations while in her home that became so severe she experienced anxiety and panic attacks.
“The vibrating was so bad I could hear constant rattling,” Ms Green said.
“I watched a water jug in the kitchen and could see it vibrating.
“I’d just be curled up on the couch and couldn’t do anything.”
The vibrations also caused cracks in cornices, gyprock, internal and external brickwork and the floor has dropped, Ms Green said.
Building inspectors and WBHO representatives have visited the home since Ms Green complained and she said she was told no monitoring had occurred in the vicinity of her home prior to her complaints.
She said the contractor had provided her with results from monitoring conducted later that fell within acceptable levels but also, according to Ms Green, occurred on days when minimal work was completed.
The RMS would not provide exact dates of when monitoring was completed.
“Dust and noise are monitored on a monthly basis to ensure levels remain within the thresholds outlined in the environmental protection licence,” the spokesman said.
QPRC public forum answers from February state the contractor was completing due diligence work on noise walls prior to construction and would include meeting with residents to determine individual needs before work commenced.
Ms Green said she received no consultation from WBHO, RMS or the council.
The RMS spokesman said noise walls were not proposed to mitigate construction noise.
Council chief executive Peter Tegart said he would host a meeting between residents and council staff to discuss their concerns.
