Twenty years of inaction at Bathurst’s worst intersection finally came to an end on Wednesday night as Bathurst Regional Council committed to fully funding a roundabout at Mitre, Lambert and Suttor streets.

And most significant was council’s commitment to fully fund the roundabout itself if a grant application for blackspot funding from the Roads and Maritime Services was unsuccessful.

It was an important change in tack from council to ensure we will finally see some action at the intersection, but there was also some sense of deja vu for long-time council watchers.

The impasse over funding a roundabout near the Assumption School bore great similarities to the long-running stand-off between council and the RMS over extending Bradwardine Drive from Suttor Street to the Mitchell Highway.

In that case, too, the question of who should fund a roundabout at the newly created intersection was the sticking point that saw the project delayed for 30 years or so.

The RMS (then the RTA) would not cough up blackspot funding because the department’s figures showed very few crashes at the site – not surprising, given there was no intersection there when the data was taken.

The RMS has also maintained that crash data at the Mitre, Suttor and Lambert streets intersection does not suggest it is a blackspot, though the low numbers in this instance are for a very different reason.

It appears to be driver confusion keeping the crash statistics down at the Mitre Street intersection as drivers slow to a crawl before attempting to cross to the other side – but that’s no way to run a local traffic policy.

We’re yet to see if the RMS will come to the party with its share of funding but, either way, the authority has done its reputation no favours by dragging the story out this long.

Kent and Diane McNab have led an impressive community campaign to secure funding for a roundabout and should be congratulated for both their tenacity and energy.

Plenty of people over the years have said something had to be done at the intersection but, as is so often the case, those words did not lead to action. Until the McNabs got involved, that is.

It’s a triumph of people power and an example to us all.