SBC Policy Committee meets with Shoalhaven City Council

Meeting Summary

Meeting with Shoalhaven City Council representatives - Thursday 21 January 2010 – Princes Highway Upgrade South Nowra – Outstanding Issues to lobby RTA

Purpose of meeting – discuss the respective submissions to RTA by the Shoalhaven Business Chamber, and also by Council, and seek an agreed position with the Shoalhaven Business Chamber for continued lobbying to RTA and State Government in coordination with Council

The meeting was held at Shoalhaven City Council (Committee Rooms 1/2) at 10:30am on Thursday 21 January, 2010

In attendance for Shoalhaven Business Chamber;

David Mitchell, Tony Emery, John Lamont, David Goodman

In attendance for Shoalhaven City Council;

Russ Pigg (General Manager);

Neil Southorn (acting Director Strategic Planning & Infrastructure);

Martin Upitis (Manager Infrastructure & Asset Management);

Scott Wells (Manager Traffic Unit);

Ben Harnwell (Economic Development Officer);

Brett Williams (Transport Engineer)

It was agreed that the respective submissions to RTA by the Shoalhaven Business Chamber, and also by Council, were largely similar.

However it was also acknowledged that where the respective submissions made suggestions of alternative treatments, or were silent on alternative treatments (where the submissions simply opposed what RTA was currently proposing) that it was important that a coordinated position be agreed to, to ensure that alternative treatments being proposed individually by Shoalhaven Business Chamber and Council were the same treatment.

Park Road – Object to Proposed Traffic Signals

Both submissions have strongly opposed traffic signals at Park Road .

It was agreed that a pedestrian over bridge would be the best outcome.

Hillcrest Avenue – accept proposed two lane roundabout

Both submissions agree with the proposed two lane roundabout at Princes Highway / Hillcrest Avenue intersection

Flinders Road – Object to there being No resolution of ultimate connection from Flinders Road – Agree should link to Browns

The Chambers position supports a deviation of Flinders Road to Browns Road , although it was agreed there was some division from within the chamber (some chamber members considered the deviation to Quinns would be more favourable)

Council’s adopted position (in accordance with Nowra Bomaderry Structure Plan preferred road network) also supports a deviation of Flinders Road to Browns Road, although at the recent Council meeting 21 December 2009, Council resolved to consider a further report on the options Browns v Quinns.

The meeting heard from Council Traffic Unit of the detailed South Nowra traffic study that examined 4 options in relation to Flinders Road at the 2016 year based on Nowra Bomaderry Structure Plan projections. This included;

1.      Retain existing intersection location and make left in / left out

2.      Test deviation of Flinders 75m to the north and construct two lane roundabout

3.      Test deviation of Flinders to Quinns

4.      Test deviation of Flinders to Browns

The traffic modelling found that;

1.      Option 1 was not sustainable in the medium term.

2.      Option 2 would work as an interim and medium term solution if required, however would not have the capacity to accommodate longer term traffic forecasts and was not a desirable intersection spacing.

3.      Option 3 was found could work, but was not as effective as Option 4.

4.      Option 4 was found to be the best option in terms of overall network delays and accordingly least cost in transport economic terms.

Full details of meeting can be obtained by visiting this link:  Minutes from Meeting

RTA’s Community update can be obtained by visiting this link:  Community Update