The lack of emergency access for Run-O-Waters was the hot ticket item at a community consultation workshop on Monday night.
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Council members, residents and developers discussed the most recent traffic report submitted to Goulburn Mulwaree Council by GTA consultants. The $29,000 study, which looked at traffic trends and road suitability, was labelled ‘weak’ and ‘inaccurate’ by some of the attendees.
Run-O-Waters resident Stewart Thompson, who plans on developing 40 lots on his 130-hectare farm, said he was not contacted by GTA consultants after reaching out to a senior member of council staff.
“The consultants were supposed to meet with me twice, but it never happened," Mr Thompson said. “I would like to think that there are other residents, like myself, who plan to develop if profitable in the future; and these future developments would feed into any traffic study.”
Mr Thompson said the traffic study lacked important details to the district.
“There needs to be at least a temporary access in case of a catastrophic event,” he said. “Putting your head in the sand for emergency management issues is not a good look.”
Goulburn Mulwaree general manager Warwick Bennett assured residents the council had not yet “endorsed or accepted” the recommendations put forward by GTA consultants.
“Council wants to really listen to the community’s advice,” Mr Bennett said, prior to discussions. “We might have to think about showing care on the road. There are many other places in regional Australia with the same issue. It’s not unusual.”
The three alternative emergency access options identified in the traffic report highlight Waterview Drive, Carr Street and Greendale Crescent as preferred options.
“The focus will always be on residents getting out of the area in the event of an emergency,” Mayor Bob Kirk said. “We all know that an alternative access is required. No amount of traffic studies is going to change that.”
Mr Kirk said the council had been in discussions with the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) for issues in Run-O-Waters and other areas.
“Before anything else happens, there should be emergency egress points for Run-O-Waters residents,” he said. “Carr Street and Greendale Crescent seem like a logical existing opportunities for emergency access that should be considered.”
The Goulburn Mulwaree Council are expected to meet with the RMS next week for further discussions on Goulburn issues. Public submissions for the traffic study will close on December 23. The report is currently on public exhibition.