Transport for NSW (formerly RMS) is refusing to contribute half the funding for a roundabout at a busy Marys Mount intersection, says the council's general manager.
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Warwick Bennett and Mayor Bob Kirk met with departmental representatives in late November to request 50 per cent funding for the work at the Marys Mount/Crookwell Road intersection.
Cr Margaret O'Neill raised the issue at the most recent council meeting, saying the area was becoming increasingly busy as more houses were built at Marys Mount.
She noted it hadn't been mentioned at a November 8 meeting of the South East Australian Transport Strategy meeting in Mollymook, which Deputy Mayor Peter Walker and Cr Denzil Sturgiss attended.
However Mr Bennett and Cr Kirk raised it at the November meeting with RMS.
"They have flatly refused to make any contribution to the intersection," Mr Bennett said.
He told councillors he had sent RMS a "relatively assertive email" expressing concern about several road issues in Goulburn Mulwaree that needed to be addressed.
"That email seems to have struck a nerve because they are coming to see us...so we will raise the intersection with them. Their expectation is that the full cost of the upgrade, even though it's a state road, should be met by Goulburn Mulwaree Council," he said.
However a Transport for NSW spokesperson said it had not received a formal request.
"(We have) no objections to Goulburn Mulwaree Council's proposal for improvements to the intersection of Marys Mount and Crookwell roads, and continue to encourage the council to submit an official request for funding to the Department," a statement read.
"The NSW Government has provided $3 million to carry out safety improvements on Crookwell Road (Main Road 54) between Crookwell and Abercrombie River across the next three years."
The council has allocated funds in its 2019/20 budget for the work. The GM said traffic safety was more important than "continually trying to fight the RMS." But ultimately it was a decision for councillors.
Cr O'Neill questioned why the organisation was funding work that was the state's responsibility.
The meeting between RMS and the council was expected to occur before Christmas.
But on Friday, Mayor Bob Kirk said it wouldn't occur until the new year. He told The Post that RMS had not given a specific reason for not funding the roundabout.
"I don't know that they fully appreciate the traffic situation on the road," he said.
"They may well do but all we know is they're not contributing to what we see as essential infrastructure. It seems reasonable that they meet us half-way. The fact is that development is happening out there."
Cr Kirk said developers, moreso than residents, had advocated for the intersection's upgrade as they saw it as a crucial access point.
Last year, in a submission on the budget, Marys Mount developer Ganter Constructions called on the council to fund "vital infrastructure" in the suburb from section 94 fees. Ganter employee Richard Toparis said the company had contributed millions of dollars in fees but "nothing had happened."
He told The Post at the time that he was asked almost daily when his company was going to build the roundabout.
"It's not our job," Mr Toparis said.
At the time, councillors agreed to commission a traffic study for the area but to also "continue negotiations with RMS regarding the intersection upgrade and a shared pedestrian pathway," given that Crookwell Road was its responsibility.
The council is also still negotiating with RMS about the Auburn Street/Sloane Street swap. The council wants it to declare Sloane Street a state road and assume its maintenance responsibility. In turn, Auburn Street would come under council control, giving it more flexibility for its beautification.
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Cr Kirk said while RMS had given in-principle approval for this in March, its engineers had since done an assessment of Sloane Street. RMS is now asking the council to contribute $5.3 million to "bring it up to standard."
"They can't seem to get their head around the fact that is the heavy vehicle route through town, not Auburn Street, and that won't change whatever they want to do," he said.
"We want just one RMS road through town - Sloane Street - and that is the stumbling block."
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said the department was continuing to move forward with road reclassification in Goulburn and was "attending regular meetings with the council to progress the request."
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
