From the Newsroom

James Creek residents discuss their road safety concerns with Clarence Valley council road safety officer, Alana Brooks (far left). Image: Contributed

James Creek residents rally for road improvements

Geoff Helisma

James Creek residents met with Clarence Valley Council (CVC) road safety officer, Alana Brooks, on Thursday November 4.

“We really believe both Gardiners and James Creek roads need to be 60kph to be safely driven,” resident spokesperson Lorri Brown said.

Ms Brown said there were several blind spots on the crest of a hill, as well as “opposing driveways and no road marking”.

“People are overtaking on the blind hill at 80kph and not realising the dangers coming up on the other side,” she said.

“We just believe that it is dangerous to do 80kph on that road, after coming off Yamba Road at 60kph.

“There have been four accidents on our corner; one where a car caught on fire, another where the driver had to be pulled out of their car – ambulance, police and the fire brigade attended those incidents.

“With Gardiners Road there are new developments … no footpaths and little line marking – it should be 60kph – and there was a pedestrian fatality at the crest of the hill.”

Ms Brown said the residents had given CVC’s road safety officer a written copy of the residents’ concerns.

Clarence Valley Council’s general manager, Ashley Lindsay, replied to the Independent’s emailed enquiry.

“Council will install speed tubes [automatic traffic data loggers] in both the 60kph and 80kph sections of road to better understand the speed environment and the extent of the problem.

“This information can be used to assist TfNSW (who are responsible for speed limits in NSW) review the speed limit.

“The data can also be used by NSW Police to respond to speeding issues identified.

“Council officers will review all the concerns raised, the speed data and the crash data and provide a report to the local traffic committee, which next meets in February 2022, for their consideration.

“Some of the outcomes could include additional line-marking, working with police, to assist targeted enforcement, and Safer Roads funding nominations, to reduce crash risk along the roads, subject to the findings of the investigations.

Some of the issues the community raised were:

  • Speeding in the 60km/h section of James Creek Road
  • Reducing the speed limit on James Creek Road from 80km/h to 60km/h
  • Crashes around particular curves
  • The potential for line-marking on the crests
  • Maintenance of the verge to allow residents to walk off the road