RESIDENTS and councillors alike are calling for an overhaul of the Telopea Way, Farrell Road and Northern Distributor Road intersections before two major developments earmarked for the area are given the go ahead.
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McDonald’s has lodged a development application (DA) for a second restaurant at the block between Farrell Road and the northern distributor.
Further up Telopea Way, a 152-space childcare centre, Orange’s largest, is also awaiting council approval.
Future plans to transform Waratah sportsground into a public recreation area and upgrade playing fields could also compound traffic woes in the precinct.
Farrell Road resident Vic Adams does not think any development should go ahead until the dangerous intersection and bottleneck at the give way sign is fixed.
He says every member of his family has had near misses at the site.
“My daughter went through there and nearly got wiped out with the grandkids in the car,” he said.
“They’ve spent a lot of money on that corner. Our whole lives were disrupted for nothing.”
Mr Adams believes the intersection of Farrell Road and Telopea Way was originally earmarked for a second set of traffic lights.
“That was the preferred option and they would be in sync with those at the distributor,” he said.
“We now have an intersection that’s not designed to take that amount of traffic.”
Traffic committee chair Cr Russell Turner said the committee visited the site recently to look at the potential problems McDonald’s could cause, but could not resolve anything because it was before the DA was lodged.
“We have to have a look at the give way sign for Telopea Way,” he said.
“I’d anticipate there’d be a redesign of the whole intersection.”
Cr Turner said any changes to the intersection would be up to the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) but council would have the final say.
“We’ll look at their recommendations but if we don’t like it we’ll fight it,” he said.
Mr Adams said he had noticed traffic counters installed to provide McDonald’s with a traffic assessment as part of its DA, but said the real problems in the area start in winter when hundreds of cars flock to the Waratahs sportsground.
“I think the McDonald’s experts will be more favourable to McDonald’s instead of us,” he said.
Despite his concerns, Mr Adams said he did not oppose the new fast food outlet.
“We need investment and development to get people out of the CBD, but do it safely for all concerned,” he said.
Mr Adams does not believe the childcare centre planned for Telopea Way will have a major impact on traffic.
“There’s a time when they drop the kids off and pick them up, whereas McDonald’s will be constant,” he said.
Like many residents in the area he would like to see the Farrell Road and Clergate Road closed but not until the other end of the street is sorted out.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au