SOLUTION NEEDED: Around 25 people, including mayor John Davis and councillors Russell Turner and Glenn Taylor met on the site of the proposed McDonald’s in north Orange on Wednesday night.
RESIDENTS concerned about the location of the proposed north Orange McDonald’s will be able to plead their case once an independent study into traffic conditions commissioned by Orange City Council is released.
At an meeting at the proposed site of the development on Wednesday afternoon mayor John Davis told the residents they would be able to personally raise their concerns about traffic congestion.
However council staff confirmed they won’t be able to have input into the study as it’s already been completed.
Meeting organiser Susan White said she was happy with the number of people who attended the meeting, around 25, including Cr Davis, Cr Russell Turner and Cr Glenn Taylor.
“As the mayor said, even if the councillors didn’t come they’re all aware of the traffic issues in the area,” Mrs White said.
Mrs White said the councillors who attended the meeting all acknowledged that traffic problems at the proposed site the corner of Telopea Way and Farrell Road “do have to be fixed”.
“I feel good that they [councillors] were there at a time when it was extremely busy,” she said.
Mrs White said the residents wanted a traffic strategy to manage the busy intersection in place before council sells the land to McDonald’s.
“Once it’s sold that corner can’t be fixed,” she said.
Mrs White said even talk of using the Clergate Road entrance as the main entry point to the fast food restaurant wouldn’t ease the traffic flow.
Residents will meet again in the next couple of weeks to decide who will speak at the next Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) meeting in March.
A decision on the development is expected to be made at April’s SDC. tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au