WITH so many candidates standing for election to Bathurst Regional Council, it is important for voters to know where candidates stand on matters important to the Bathurst community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For example, the petition to council for the construction of a roundabout at the Lambert/Mitre/Suttor streets intersection in West Bathurst has so far received 4444 signatures - signifying the importance placed on making this intersection safer.
This roundabout has been included in council’s 2017/2018 works program, supported by a budgeted expenditure item of $850,000, stated as half the cost of constructing the roundabout.
Council has submitted an application for Commonwealth Black Spot Funding for the balance of $850,000 required to complete the roundabout.
The current councillors passed a resolution on June 21, 2017, when adopting the 2017/2018 works program, that should council be unsuccessful in securing sufficient black spot funding for the project, a “report be presented to council to fund this project from the 2017/2018 budget”.
The voters of Bathurst will expect candidates to indicate strongly that they will stand by this resolution and will ensure that the roundabout is started at the earliest possible time during the 2017/2018 financial year, and is completed.
It is pleasing to see that some candidates, such as current councillors Ian North and Bobby Bourke, as well as independent candidate Alex Christian, have already expressed their support for the roundabout.
The importance of the roundabout cannot be understated.
This intersection’s proximity to Assumption Primary School, as well as West Bathurst Primary School and the Bathurst High Campus of Denison College, means that it is extremely busy at school drop-off and pick-up times.
However, as it is situated on the major route between Windradyne, Llanarth and West Bathurst and the CBD, it is also extremely busy at other times, including the end of the working day and on weekends.
Add to this the neighbourhood shops, the tennis courts and park, each with their own car park, the Mitre Street taxi rank and Esrom/Mitre streets intersection and you have a recipe for confusion.
Funeral processions from all churches in Bathurst to the cemetery and crematorium also pass through this intersection.
The timing of an accident at this intersection on Friday, November 25, 2016 was the only factor which prevented a tragedy.
It was kindergarten orientation day for Assumption Primary School and between 9am and 9.15am, parents of four to five-year old children enrolled to start school in 2017 walked their little ones along the Mitre Street footpath into the school.
The accident – when two cars collided, one towing a trailer, and one car hurtled onto the footpath in front of the school near the gate – occurred at 9.30am.
That accident was the catalyst for our campaign.
The current council is to be congratulated for hearing the call and including the roundabout in the 2017/2018 works program.
Incoming councillors will need to continue this good work by voting for the funding necessary to complete the roundabout, should black spot funding not eventuate.
The voters of Bathurst look forward to hearing candidates’ confirmation that they will do that.