Council cornered by 7-Eleven plan: will this be another 'north Orange mess'?

Orange City Council approved a development application on Tuesday night for a 7-Eleven convenience store and petrol station at a former car yard on the corner of Glenroi Avenue and Bathurst Road.

But with a proposed median strip on Bathurst Road preventing a right-hand turn from the business, forcing traffic onto Glenroi Avenue, four ratepayers objected to the plans.

Richard Castine addressed the council on Tuesday night, saying he had counted 52 cars in an hour turning out of Glenroi Avenue and some motorists made it “by the skin of their teeth”.

“The last thing you would want would be another north Orange mess,” he said.

But with NSW Roads and Maritime Services satisfied the traffic arrangement would be sufficient with the addition of a median strip in Glenroi Avenue to prevent queuing in Bathurst Road, mayor John Davis was concerned refusing the development would lead to an appeal in the Land and Environment Court.

“And we are going to get beat,” he said.

Councillor Ron Gander said he did not know how fuel trucks would cope if they could not access the development directly from Bathurst Road.

“I wonder what the RMS were smoking when they said they could have safe entry and exit points - the traffic flow is a little bit fraught with danger,” he said.

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Councillor Reg Kidd said turning right out of Glenroi Avenue was already almost impossible.

“It will only be 12-18 months before people are screaming blue murder about accidents and we’ll have to put in traffic lights,” he said.

“We’re in fairy land if we’re going to have a 7-Eleven and have it stay as it is.”

Councillors turned their attention to the Kinross Wolaroi School traffic lights, which were installed as a pedestrian crossing but not used, and resolved to meet with the RMS.

Councillor Jason Hamling said they should be moved to Glenroi Avenue.

“If there’s traffic lights, you can get on that road safely - we should be able to move them,” he said.

Ophir Tavern owner Colin McGillivray said the traffic report was flawed and he would welcome traffic lights.

“I just want some traffic control measures - people want to go to the hotel, but they’ll say it’s too difficult, particularly on that Bathurst Road side,” he said.

danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au