BATHURST Regional Council has failed in its bid to secure federal funding to help build a roundabout at the city’s worst intersection.
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Council submitted an application in July last year for funding to upgrade the busy intersection at Lambert, Suttor and Mitre streets near the Assumption School in West Bathurst.
Council was seeking funding of $850,000 towards the $1.7 million project after agreeing to set aside $850,000 of its own in the 2017-18 budget.
But Infrastructure and Transport Minister Michael McCormack confirmed the worst fears of roundabout campaigners on Wednesday when he published a list of more than 100 projects to be funded under the 2018-19 Black Spot Program: Bathurst was not on it.
“Ahead of the Easter long weekend there is no better time to discuss road safety,” Mr McCormack said.
“So far 188 people have sadly lost their lives on our roads in 2018.
“On average Black Spot projects reduce the number of crashes causing death and injury by 30 per cent.
“The Coalition Government has extended the Black Spot Program and is providing $60 million per year from 2021-22 onwards, building on the current $684.5 million investment from 2013-14 to 2020-2021.”
The decision has angered roundabout campaigners and will put new pressure on council to fully fund the project from its own reserves to avoid further delays.
And more galling to Bathurst campaigners was the fact another Orange City Council project has won federal funding while Bathurst was again ignored.
The government will chip in $135,000 to upgrade road pavement and improve the road geometry at Endsleigh Avenue, Caroline Street and Edward Street in Orange.
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