A resident of Upper Kedron in Brisbane says heavy construction traffic has transformed the quiet bushland setting she was promised into a daily route for dump trucks, with work expected to continue until late 2027.
The woman bought a new house-and-land package in Ellendale in 2019, attracted by its position beside D’Aguilar National Park. She now says trucks serving a major water reservoir project rattle her windows six days a week and pass until about 6.30pm.
She has installed a double-glazed uPVC entranceway in an attempt to reduce the noise, but expects the disruption to continue as the masterplanned community expands.
Upper Kedron is surrounded on three sides by the national park, but Canvey Road has changed markedly since she moved there. Large two-storey family homes have spread across the development, many built on relatively small plots, while roadworks and infrastructure projects continue around them.
The estate was promoted as “a thriving community where the city meets nature”. However, the resident says the developer’s brochure did not make clear that her display home stood beside what would become the principal arterial road through the growing community.
Construction work expected to continue until late 2027
The Pensar water reservoir project is intended to provide infrastructure for the estate. Official masterplans state that “every effort will be made to minimise impacts to the community”, while indicating that the work will run until late 2027.
The resident had previously lived on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, where she rented while retaining a one-bedroom flat in Kedron, Brisbane. She later returned to Queensland after needing to leave a volatile situation and chose the Upper Kedron house after comparing it with new townhomes in Norman Park.
Kedron and Upper Kedron are often assumed to be neighbouring suburbs, although they are about 15 kilometres apart. The connection is Kedron Brook, rather than the two suburbs directly bordering one another.
While the construction traffic has altered the area, she says she remains grateful to have her own home and to be living away from the turmoil she experienced in New South Wales.
She describes herself as a librarian living with her cat, Chloe, in a community dominated by families. The nearby Arana Hills library, bushwalking trails and surrounding wildlife have helped her settle into the suburb.
Honeyeaters move through the trees and scrub turkeys forage on the ground, offering reminders of the bushland that drew her to the area. Pet-sitting has also become an important part of her life, while neighbours have helped with gardening and other tasks.
Ellendale Village’s shops finally opened in 2024, giving residents access to an IGA, pharmacy and medical centre within walking distance. She says the car park is usually busy, but prefers walking there because it is close to home.
She believes Upper Kedron will eventually become peaceful again, although possibly not until after the Brisbane Olympics, once construction of the new homes has been completed and the heavy vehicles have disappeared from Canvey Road.
