I fully support Tony’s conclusion that there should be an independent enquiry into the Northern Distributor’s shortcomings.

The object of an enquiry is not to crucify any individual, but simply to find out the causes of the shortcomings and ensure they don’t happen again.

I recently had a long discussion with a senior RMS engineer who made the following observations: the volume of traffic has very little to do with the reasons the road is failing, but principally to do with the sub-structure, as Tony Mileto pointed out.

When the RMS builds a two-lane highway which narrows into a single lane the structure of the road remains the same although traffic per lane increases.

He also informed me that hot mix will not rectify the problem long term as the sub-structure is still inadequate.

I believe an independent enquiry would address all the relevant matters.

IF the pro-development people writing to the CWD had attended the council meeting on February 7, 2017 they would have seen at least 60 residents from all over Orange in the gallery.

Most of those residents went to hear Councillor Russell Turner apologise for his two code of conduct breaches relating to the 62 Byng Street development application and to show their support for the continued efforts to have the DA rejected.

Councillors would be well aware that there is still a considerable groundswell against this development application in the community in general.

The Land and Environmental Court gave approval for previous objectors to make new submissions. I believe there are still questions to be answered on Bulk and Scale, Heritage and Traffic.

Trying to make a reasonable assessment of the new plans was very difficult. For reasons unknown to me, photo copying of 23 of the new 25 documents on display at the council was not permitted.

Viewing the large amount of paper work at the council between 9am and 5pm on work days was difficult.

This restriction was annoying and confusing as the developer had stated in a recent PR handout: “we are passionate about working with the community on this project”.

So, I wonder why the decision was made to restrict photo copying? The bottom line is, the developer is still trying to fit the Titanic into a home swimming pool in the central Orange heritage conservation area.

ON March 19, 2015, the now Premier Gladys Berejiklian said: “I think it is important to us to keep local government local to the people and there will be nothing people will be forced into”.

On March 18, 2015, the now Deputy Premier John Barilaro said: “let me be clear, there will be no forced amalgamations in this region. I will be guided by my community. I will keep ‘local’ in local government”.

On October 11, 2015, the now Minister for Local Government Gabrielle Upton said: “I believe there is no perfect size for a council and what works here [Woollahra] may not work for those that are three streets to our south.”

They should apologise to all those communities they misled and keep their undertakings to not impose forced council mergers.