Council to seek upgrade to Harparary Road, Kamilaroi Highway intersection

Narrabri Shire Council will seek the urgent installation of upgrades at the intersection of Harparary Road and Kamilaroi Highway, councillors agreed at last week’s ordinary meeting.

As the highway is a state-managed road, council will write to both Transport for NSW and the relevant minister seeking appropriately sized turning lanes on both approaches to the intersection.

Council will seek a delivery commitment in the next state budget year, the business paper from the meeting states.

Cr Brett Dickinson moved the notice of motion and said he had noticed on multiple occasions the inability of road trains to be able to brake in time when vehicles are turning right or left into Harparary Road.

“I feel that there will be a serious accident there if steps aren’t taken to create these turning lanes,” Cr Dickinson told last the meeting last Wednesday evening.

“On many occasions, there’s been long skid marks where the trucks have tried to stop on the highway.

“The fact that is a bus stop on the southern side … it is a considerable cause for safety.

“If vehicles are travelling, and somebody comes over the hill at speed and someone needs to turn to the right especially travelling towards Narrabri … I feel that there would be a serious accident there.”

Earlier in the discussion, general manager Eloise Chaplain advised that the matter had earlier been raised at a traffic management committee meeting.

Cr Dickinson, a member of the committee, said Transport for NSW would investigate the matter, however, it seemed to be gaining no traction.

Ms Chaplain said the new approach to be adopted by council was the appropriate escalation of the issue.

The motion to seek the upgrade through Transport for NSW and the state minister was seconded by Cr Ryan Whillas and unanimously supported by councillors.