Staff working on answers to MPs road safety queries

Safety improvements to a number of Coast roads were recommended at the latest meeting of the Local Traffic Committee meeting.

They included:

##  pedestrian refuge at Lake View Road, Wamberal and 

## another one at Cape Three Points, Avoca.

## reconstruction of a culvert located in Yakalla Street, Shelly Beach.

## pedestrian and intersection improvements at the corner of Hutton Road and Hargraves Street, The Entrance North.

## no parking signs at 142 Albany St, Point Frederick while a redevelopment – which has already started – goes ahead.

 

Other suggestions were dismissed.

For example, Busways asked whether consideration was given to Austral Avenue, Avoca, being one-way. 

Council Officers advised that no change to travel directions were required at this time. 

 

Questions about previous matters were raised in general business.

A representative of Member for The Entrance David Mehan wanted updates on four items:

– On-street parking and driveway access concerns at Bias Ave, Bateau Bay

– Pedestrian access to The Entrance Ocean Baths 

– Driveway access issues at Hutton Road, The Entrance North 

– Promotion of the road rules to the community

 

The answer?

These items are under investigation by Council’s Traffic Team.

“Should any outcomes of the investigations require the consideration of the Local Traffic Committee, they will be listed as an item for future committee consideration,” the minutes state.

 

A representative of the Member for Swansea Yasmin Catley raised safety concerns about the pedestrian refuge and school zone hours at Brava Avenue and Goorama Road, San Remo, adjacent to the public and high school. 

Council Officers advised that any proposal to alter the 40 km School Zone signage to better reflect school hours was a matter for TfNSW. 

Council’s Traffic Team is investigating the pedestrian refuge issue, with construction of a pathway to link the existing shared path to the pedestrian refuge to be completed shortly. 

Ms Catley’s office also asked about plans for a pathway along Scenic Drive, Budgewoi, to improve pedestrian safety. 

Council Officers advised that options are currently under investigation, but the project is currently unfunded.

Council told the meeting it had received requests from residents with road safety concerns in Oceano Street,
Copacabana which was recently upgraded with new pavement, kerb and gutter, street drainage and footpath.

The road width varies from 7 metres to 8 metres.
A combination of on-street parking and horizontal and vertical curves result in reduced sight distance for
traffic in either direction in sections of Oceano Street.

In order to improve lane discipline and sight distance, Council proposes to install centre line marking, raised reflective pavement markers and a section of No
Parking restrictions.

It was agreed to Install 77 metres of No Parking restriction between House Number 61/63 and House Number 71/73A,
on the northern side of Oceano Street, Copacabana, as soon as work priorities permit..

 

Background: 

 

The Local Traffic Committee is a technical review committee that operates as an advisory body to Council on traffic related matters.  

The guide to how they operate is dated 2009 – so they have been around for some time. 

For some reason – which Council has not explained – the minutes are now being made public.

The Committee must include four formal members each with one vote.  

These four members are a representative from Council, the NSW Police Local Area Command, TfNSW and the Local State Member of Parliament or their representative.  

The Local State Member or their representative may only vote on matters within their respective electorate. 

The delegations also provide for the inclusion of the State Transit Authority of NSW, private bus company; and taxi operators as informal non-voting representatives, who provide technical advice in their area of expertise. 

The recommendations from the committee are considered for endorsement by Council’s Infrastructure Services director acting on behalf of Council.