ORANGE City Council was likened to a circus this week when councillors were asked to push the proposed southern feeder road further up the to-do list.
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Councillor Fiona Rossiter moved to have Orange City Council apply for government funding to reduce the road’s 16-year completion timeline during a meeting on Thursday evening.
Even if government funding was secured, the council would have to find millions of dollars for its own contribution.
Cr Rossiter’s motion was defeated after most councillors argued resources should be focused on finishing the north Orange bypass.
They also argued council had a lengthy list of infrastructure projects already on its books and planning for the first stage of the southern feeder road - a major roundabout at the Huntley, Forest and Sharp Road junction and extension of Anson Street - was already underway.
The dynamic of local roads around south Orange will change substantially once the new Orange Base Hospital opens early next year.
Other major developments planned for the area include a private hospital, shopping centre, 500-lot residential suburb and a $30 million mining control centre.
A newly-released timeline puts the completion of the southern feeder road at 16 years, at a cost of about $25 million.
Cr Rossiter said Orange City Council had a responsibility to ensure the roads could deal with the extra traffic sooner.
Her motion called for the fast-tracking of the project should government funding be obtained.
She also asked for a report on the impact of development on traffic in the area.
The subsequent debate became heated and emotional.
It was likened to a circus by a bemused member of the public gallery.
An angry Cr Chris Gryllis took exception to the suggestion Orange City Council was not taking the issue seriously.
“It’s as if some councillors think they have an exclusive right to care about traffic and safety,” he said.
“I get offended when a fellow councillor claims I don’t care about people.
“I resent the suggestion some councillors care about Orange and others don’t give a razoo.”
Cr Jeremy Buckingham said not all developments proposed for south Orange would be built at the same time.
“If there’s a house out there in five years I’d be surprised,” he said.
“Even if this happens quickly, they will still be building houses out there in 10 years time.
“It’s not as though it will be bang, 500 houses out there in one big hit and the roads are inundated.
“This will happen over time and we can respond over time.”
Cr Jeff Whitton was one of a number of councillors who expressed concerns that the community had false expectations about the delivery of the road.
“I think it’s dangerous to create the expectation this is going to happen soon,” he said.
“It’s irresponsible to suggest it [the road network] is going to be an unmitigated disaster if we don’t do something tomorrow.”
bevan.shields@ruralpress.com
