BATHURST Regional Council won't be allowed to forget the importance of upgrading the intersection of Mitre, Suttor and Lambert street.
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Dianne McNab took the opportunity to address council at last month's ordinary meeting, asking for an update on the project.
In his last update, director of Engineering Services Darren Sturgiss said council was still waiting for permission to have an easement for its water pipes.
And it appears that in the weeks since, not much has changed.
"We are progressing the design on the basis that an easement will be granted by the department of Crown Lands. We have applied for that easement and an interim licence agreement to start the construction prior to the easement actually being created," Mr Sturgiss said.
"An easement process can take up to two years, for instance, so we wish for a licence to be granted first, which is common practice for any matter that we deal with on crown lands, so we don't foresee there will be a problem in that regard.
"Once we get the licence and the design is finished, tenders will be called."
During her speech, Mrs McNab highlighted how long it had been since council began talking about the need to upgrade the intersection.
A 1997 report stated that it was confusing to drivers, had complex vehicle movements, was potentially unsafe and was likely to become more unsafe if traffic grew.
After 22 years, Mrs McNab said action was needed.
"You have confirmed the engineer's recommendation to construct a roundabout and upgrade the infrastructure, you have allocated funding in the previous and the current financial year budgets. The project needs to progress to construction," she said.
Further to her point, Mrs McNab told council that she had recently heard from a retired taxi driver who deemed the intersection "the most difficult and dangerous intersection to negotiate in Bathurst".
There are now 1992 students enrolled in the schools near the intersection and their safety is the priority.
"We will continue our campaign until this roundabout is constructed to ensure the safety of young school children, other pedestrians and drivers," Mrs McNab said.
