COUNCIL are banking on federal funding to help curb the growing number of car accidents in a fast-developing part of town.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Tamworth councillors reckon their a good chance of landing $800,000 from the federal government through the 2018/19 Black Spot program to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Browns Ln and Moore Creek Rd
The odds must be good, with a last minute push for council to fully-fund the roundabout’s construction scuttled at its last meeting.
A report considered by Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) said “the intersection has shown an increase in motor vehicle accidents”, over the last two to three years.
“Almost all of the accidents can be attributed to Browns Ln traffic failing to give way to Moore Creek Rd traffic,” the report said.
If TRC secures the Black Spot funding, work on the intersection won’t be able to start until the 2018/19 financial year, which proved to be a sticking point for Cr Juanita Wilson, who tried to move an amendment calling on council to fully-fund the project.
“Our infrastructure isn’t keeping up and this is clear example,” she said.
The amendment was quickly shot down by Glenn Inglis, Phil Betts and Russell Webb who all held firm that TRC was “a good chance” to land funding.
Council missed out on federal funding for the intersection in the 2015/16 round of federal funding.
“Spending $850,000 will not stop accidents,” Cr Betts said.
“I’d like to see the speed limits reduced again.”
Cr Webb said it would be “foolish” to stump up for the project when council is trying “to find ways to and means to save money around the place”.
The move found support in Mark Rodda and deputy mayor Helen Tickle who aired concerns about the growing number of accidents.
As interim measures to stem more accidents, TRC has installed larger give way signs at the intersection, redone line-marking on the roads while vowing increase the frequency of roadside slashing.
About two years ago
TAMWORTH Regional Council is aiming to construct a roundabout at the accident prone Moore Creek Rd and Browns Ln intersection by the end of this financial year, but local residents say it can’t come soon enough.
TRC’s director of regional services, Peter Resch, said a roundabout is “ultimately part of the overall plan, but exactly when is subject to traffic generation and funding”. Read more.
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
