LAST week the Courier bought to public attention Annette Thomson’s concerns about roadside maintenance on Logans Crossing Road.
In particular Ms Thomson said drivers do not have enough vision around overgrown corners. She fears this may result in an accident, like that of 2006 when a seven-year-old girl was killed and her brother and a neighbour seriously injured when hit by a car as they crossed Lorne Road.
Ms Thomson said she had been in contact with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council about maintaining verges. She remains unhappy with their responses.
The Courier raised Ms Thomson’s concerns with the council’s Manager Infrastructure Operations, Gary Randall, and Nick Gainsford, Road Safety Officer.
“Council undertakes and prioritises road maintenance activities, including roadside vegetation management, based on risk and public safety and in accordance with the roads maintenance hierarchy,” Mr Randall said.
“The roads maintenance hierarchy ranks all 1400 roads (approximate figure) within the Port Macquarie- Hastings Local Government Area in relative priority order. The hierarchy is determined based on traffic volumes, speed limit, proximity to towns and villages, bus routes etc.
“The roadside slashing level of service provided by Council sees the higher priority sealed roads ideally slashed at least yearly, with relatively lower priority sealed roads having slashing restricted to those intersections/corners and locations that represent a specific traffic safety hazard. This is also conducted annually.
“Council appreciates members of the community bringing matters to our attention and seeks to investigate and risk-assess these matters as soon as possible. If the investigation and risk assessment support the need for works to be undertaken, these are scheduled.
“Unfortunately in some cases, whilst the completion of the requested works may be considered ideal, the relative priority of the works and Council’s finite resources result in the works not being undertaken, and the community member being informed that the works are a relatively low priority.
“In this specific case, despite Ms Thomson’s ongoing correspondence with Council over the need for slashing in the immediate proximity of her property, these works remain a relatively low priority for Council vegetation maintenance crews, as Logan’s Crossing Road (in this area) does not present a relatively significant hazard when compared to other locations within the Local Government Area.”
The Courier asked how the council maintains a directive from the coroner, following the inquiry into the 2006 accident, which recommended drivers should have clear view of 200m from both directions around bus stops or have signs where clearing the area is not possible.
“”In relation to Lorne Road, sections have been upgraded and additional signage installed,” Mr Gainsford said.
“In terms of the wider Local Government Area, Council has undertaken a program of installing reflective fluorescent bus route signage along rural bus routes.
“Rural bus routes are a dynamic situation in that student numbers and stopping areas may change over time as they are dependent on the volume of students and this situation is monitored closely by Council and Busways. It is the concurrent view that all stops should avail themselves to maximise safety constraints and it is cognisant upon the driver of the bus to recognise this fact.
“Obviously schools and bus stops are high on [the priority] list however, if any area was a significant safety risk it would be acted upon as soon as possible. In regards to these areas a risk assessment analysis would be carried out and acted upon accordingly. Bus stops are deemed to be in such a position to maximise the safety of the students both in the circumstances of boarding and alighting from the bus.”
Mr Randall admitted most roads in the Camden Haven are not safe for pedestrians in his statement to the Courier that, “Council does not support, endorse nor encourage pedestrians (including school children) to travel by foot along road sides or unformed footpaths. There are no footpaths concrete or otherwise, in the vicinity of Ms Thomson’s residence and Council would urge any pedestrians to avoid walking on the road (roads edge) in this area, as Council would for all other roads.”
Ms Thomson said she and her neighbours have spoken about several near-miss accidents on Logans Crossing Road due to the lack of vision around corners during peak times of road use - during school drop-off and pick-up times. Ms Thomson said the road is very quiet during the middle of the day which is when, she said, council officers assess the road.
Mr Randall said the council may investigate further if requested.
“Council is constantly monitoring all roads in the LGA in terms of road safety especially around bus stops obviously it is not possible to be present at all locations, but I am in constant contact with Busways and the private contractors in regard to any safety issues that may arise,” he said.
“Feedback from the public is also helpful in addressing safety issues. If there is a request to monitor a particular section of road that is causing concern that can certainly be accommodated.”
Mr Randall did not support Ms Thomson’s claims that overgrown vegetation on council-owned land presented the catalyst for a rat infestation.
“Council staff have not observed any evidence of rat infestation in this area, and note that there are several hectares of wooded, cleared and semi cleared land in the vicinity of, and including, Ms Thomson’s property that could equally represent habitat for rats.”
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