Eight years to fix road

CABONNE Council was warned eight years ago the intersection of Lake Canobolas Road and Cargo Road was an accident waiting to happen, according to residents.

An accident involving a ute and and a four-wheel-drive occurred at the intersection yesterday morning.

Rural Fire Service captain Rob Cunial was part of the team that cut a 27-year-old man from the ute.

He said he was particularly upset because the accident might not have occurred if council had removed a hill in Cargo Road. He said residents had told council of their concerns eight years ago when the road was sealed.

“It’s not a nice thing to come out to accidents that could have been prevented, particularly when there is this poor kid stuck in the car,” he said.

Cabonne resident Guy Gaeta said council told residents the hill would be lowered eight years ago.

“They said they’d do something about it and then all of a sudden they left and didn’t do it, they said they ran out of money,” he said.

“You can’t see for more than 60 metres down Cargo Road. When you’ve got cars and trucks going as fast as they do it just doesn’t give you enough time to see them.”

Cabonne councillor Kevin Duffy is calling on council to reveal the list of roads to benefit from $15.9 million in the budget. He said council needed to fix the road and should have eight years ago.

“I find it unacceptable that after a big push council eventually fixed Centofanti’s corner on Burrendong way,” he said.

“We had to nearly break their arm to do so but it should have happened here as well.”

Cr Duffy said council had the funds to fix the intersection.

“Council can put its own funds into these roads and when you don’t do it this is the end result,” he said.

Mr Gaeta said residents deserved to travel safely.

“They’re putting money before people’s lives.”

Council spokesperson Dale Jones said council could not comment until police and Roads and Maritime Services had finished their investigations.

nicole.kuter@ruralpress.com