A BLUEPRINT for the Bathurst roads network includes plans for a new bridge over the Macquarie River linking Bathurst and Kelso and a duplication of the arterial road linking Eglinton and the CBD.
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A report to councillors by environmental, planning and building services director Neil Southorn has outlined council’s major road plans in the short, medium and long term, along with future challenges.
It highlights the need for new or upgraded links to the city’s growth areas including Kelso; Windradyne, Llanarth and Eglinton; Eleven Mile Drive; and the Stewart and Durham street intersection.
However, Mr Southorn also notes that some of the planning has remained unchanged for more than a decade.
“Council, since the mid-1990s, has identified a number of required road upgrades to cater for the continued growth of the city towards the west,” the report states.
“The infrastructure requirements are contained in the Roadworks - New Residential Subdivision Section 94 Development Contributions Plan.
“There have been some recent refinements, however, the plan has largely remained unchanged since its adoption in 2005.”
Highlights for council’s planning for west of the CBD include:
- Duplication of Durham Street and Eglinton Road from Stewart Street to Rankens Bridge.
- Duplication of Bradwardine Road between Eglinton Road and Mitchell Highway.
- New four-lane road linking Rankens Bridge to Ophir Road.
- Intersection treatments along Eglinton Road, Bradwardine Road and within Eglinton village.
The east of the city is also a focus as new subdivisions are established in Laffing Waters and Kelso.
The report identifies the duplication of Hereford Street as a priority, along with an upgrade of the Marsden Lane and Gilmour Street intersection, a number of local roundabouts or intersection treatments, and duplication of the low level bridge.
Cr Ian North welcomed the report but said council needed to move more quickly to cater for a growing population.
“I still think we have to start progressing quicker than what we are,” Cr North said.
“This city is growing at a phenomenal rate and I notice in there that the first part identifies a number of projects in the Kelso catchment including duplication of the low level bridge,” he said.
“Now, I certainly don’t want a duplication of the low level bridge for the reason that I want a duplication of the bridge that is higher.
“We need to be forward-thinking, even thinking coming out at Rankin Street for people going out to Ego and West Bathurst and the other one going to the other side of Bathurst and South Bathurst way.
“We need to do this sooner rather than later because this city is growing and I think most people avoid going down George Street and Hereford Street.”
Cr Warren Aubin asked if council would have to acquire land to duplicate the road and whether that process was under way.
General manager David Sherley replied that no route had been finalised but council had been buying properties along the eastern side of the river for several years as they had come on the market.
“Anywhere from the railway bridge down to Eglinton we’ve been buying land when it’s been available,” he said. “When we hear there’s land available we are making approaches to buy if it’s at a reasonable price.
“… We will continue to pursue whatever land we can buy on the floodplain area and that’s a combination of access but also it’s been council practice to clear that space of dwellings to reduce the problems that occur in flood events.”
