VITAL roads infrastructure stands in the way of an exciting new development at Laffing Waters.
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Several councillors agree that further development of Laffing Waters in the future shouldn't commence until the roads catch up to Bathurst's growth.
The number one way to address that would be another river crossing somewhere between Hereford Street and Rankens Bridge Road.
Cr Warren Aubin said it was the only viable option to beat congestion as people try to get to and from homes on the the northern side of the river.
"It is absolutely vital. With that type of development [at Laffing Waters], we're looking at another 18,000 vehicle movements per day," he said.
"You would be thinking that the roads are going to get a little clogged up."
Just where to put a third river crossing would be subject to available land, but Cr Aubin said a continuation of Laffing Waters Lane, which becomes Ecrates Place, would be the ideal option.
It has also been previously suggested that Hereford Street and the low level bridge be widened, however this idea has been dismissed.
"You can put two lanes up and down there, but you still have to funnel traffic through that awful bridge and Stanley Street, which you can't change," Cr Aubin said.
Of a similar opinion to Cr Aubin, Cr Alex Christian said Bathurst Regional Council had to improve its infrastructure before developing more housing.
"We really need to look into the future with our infrastructure," he said.
"That area is going to get bigger into the future and have more traffic movements."
While Cr Christian is supportive of another river crossing, he said that it had to be something that could be paid for and built within the next decade otherwise it wouldn't address the needs of Bathurst as a growing city.
At the last council meeting, deputy mayor Bobby Bourke said that previous subdivisions around Kelso didn't take traffic movements seriously enough.
He said the benefit of the master plan for Laffing Waters was that, being years away, it allowed plenty of time for council and the community to discuss the infrastructure needed to support the development area.
Speaking to the Western Advocate, Cr Bourke said now was the time to talk about infrastructure and start costing for an additional road.
"As we are growing and we are growing fast, we've got to hurry up and figure out where we are going to put this new bridge," he said.
"We just can't sit back and wait. It needs to be budgeted for and us working with the RMS (Roads and Maritime Services)."
His preference would be for the new bridge and road to link up with Rankin Street, but he would also like to see Hereford Street widened to further support additional vehicle movements.
The Laffing Waters master plan was adopted at the May ordinary meeting of council and is now on public display.
It encompasses a 360-hectare area, with land allocated for a shopping centre, neighbourhood activity centre, a new school and 2000 residential lots.
Lots would vary between 450 and 940 square metres.
