Round ‘n’ round

Debate about the safety of a Narrabri West Roundabout seems to be going ‘round and round’ with the Narrabri Shire Council set to go back to the State Government with community concerns about the intersection of the Newell Highway, Mooloobar Street and Old Turrawan Road, particularly the southbound lane near the Narrabri West Public School.

“We at Council would like people to come forward if they have photos or evidence and specific dates about incidents at that roundabout,” said Councillor Ann Loder.

“We need to see that the road is fixed, it needs to be flat and we need to make it safe for locals, visitors to our town and also make it smooth for freight – it’s a major thoroughfare.”

Of course, concerns about the intersection’s safety aren’t new.

On December 1, 2018 transport operator Lex Gordon wrote to Council regarding the roundabout, highlighting his worries about the southbound lane near the Narrabri West Public School.

“You have kids in the school 50 feet from the roundabout with big tankers going past,” Mr Gordon said recently.

Other issues raised by community members in relation to the roundabout include the geometry of the intersection, proximity to the Narrabri West Public School and the potential for a ‘catastrophic event’ such as a hazardous substance spill at the roundabout.

Council raised the matter with Roads and Maritime Services and was told it was ‘within acceptable tolerances of risk’.

In March 2019 Council wrote to the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole seeking a formal review of the roundabout.

In August 2019, the Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Roads and Infrastructure Christopher Gulapitis responded advising that an investigation has been conducted by Transport NSW.

“Heavy vehicle operators can safely and legally pass through, however, may need to lane share or drive over the trafficable part of the roundabout,” Mr Gulapitis said in his letter to Council’s general manager Stewart Todd.

As a result Mr Gulapitis said: “The potential for a heavy vehicle crash resulting in a chemical or hazardous spill is not considered to be substantially greater than other urban locations across the State network.

“Further, the low crash history of this site indicates heavy vehicle operators are aware of the conditions and adjust their behaviour accordingly.”

Cr Loder has been approached by worried residents and truck drivers and recently presented to Council half a dozen photos of incidents that occurred near the roundabout including a car that has crashed into the Narrabri West Public School fence in May 2018, a truck with its trailer tipped over in 2018 and video footage from the Facebook page ‘Dashcams Australia’ that shows a truck’s trailer starting to tip as the vehicle travels through the roundabout in January 2010.

The exact context of each incident is not known at this stage.

At its most recent Council meeting, it resolved to once again raise concerns about the intersection’s risks.

Cr Loder is urging people to contact Council with their evidence or concerns about the roundabout.

“We need evidence to get the road changed.”