Road Network and Pedestrian Safety

Under the amended development application submitted to the Department of Planning Daracon is seeking approval for 32,000 truck movements per year of rock from the Martins Creek mine.

All roads leading to the quarry site appear to be significantly inadequate and deficient for the intended use. The obvious problems associated with haul roads through residential, urban and business precinct streets are clear; pedestrian safety, school bus safety, school zone safety, places of worship impact, park and open space impact and the clear non-compliance that requires articulated trucks to cross double white lines through narrow intersections and residential streets along existing routes.

MCQAG presumes that Daracon's EIS assessment of the road network will also address;

The stopping sight distance along the rural road will need to be improved to ensure that all crests and curves are suitably speed restricted.

The issue of blind/unseen private, commercial and side road accesses will need to be addressed so that vehicle speeds are confined to allow safe stopping distances.

The accident record and type of accidents needs to be analysed as this may have  a bearing in the issue if there is to be a dramatic change in composition of the traffic.

Put simply the road network made up of very old rural (non arterial) roads, originally designed to carry loads much less than today’s modern traffic.

Present single lane heritage listed bridges will require structural assessment, impact loading for heavy vehicles, load limits etc.