The NSW Centre for Road Safety say there were 12 accidents on Woodward Street between 2011 and 2015, however residents disagree and claim none have occurred where a controversial mobile speed camera is routinely positioned.
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Among the road uses frustrated by the camera’s location is nearby resident Denis Gregory who drives past the camera regularly and sees it as a revenue raising venture.
Mr Gregory said within 1.6 kilometres from where the camera sits is the Summer Street roundabout, intersections with Byng and March Streets and Burrendong Way.
“That’s where the crashes would be,” he said.
“Duncan Gay used to say [when he was Roads Minister] these cameras were only used in black spot areas, and there’s no history of accidents that I know of there.
“There’s definitely no accidents where it has been in front of Elephant Park.
“I’m not against using those [mobile speed cameras] but they should be using them where they do some good.”
Mr Gregory said the camera is only there to raise revenue.
“It’s there to collect money, I don’t think there would be any other reason,” he said.
“I think [the contractor] goes where they collect the most fines.
“It’s a straight piece of road and it’s probably the widest stretch of road in Orange and it’s got nothing on one side and a long way on the other side are some houses .”
According to the Centre for Road Safety, the Woodward Street location became operational from June 2012, and from 2011 to 2015 there were 12 crashes resulting in nine people being injured, including five serious injuries, over a 1.6km stretch.
Of the recently revealed 384 new mobile speed-camera locations, many are at notorious black spots.
The new locations include: Warrendine Street, Forest Road and Peisley Street, Leeds Parade and William Street in Orange, Hill Street, Market Street, Mitchell Highway and Watson Street in Molong, Cargo Road at Nashdale, the Mitchell Highway at Belgravia and the Calarie Road, the Newell Highway and Parkes Road at Forbes.
There were 89 casualty crashes resulting in 118 people injured from 2011 to mid-2016 in those areas.
Tanya Marschke
I am based at Orange and cover a wide range of subjects as well as the weekly business column. I've worked consistently in the the media industry since 2006 including the past seven years at the Central Western Daily. Before moving to Orange, I worked as a journalist at weekly newspapers the Beaudesert Times and the Gold Coast Sun in Queensland, as well as the Scone Advocate in the Hunter Valley. I started my career at the Ridge News in Lightning Ridge while I completed my journalism studies remotely at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.
I am based at Orange and cover a wide range of subjects as well as the weekly business column. I've worked consistently in the the media industry since 2006 including the past seven years at the Central Western Daily. Before moving to Orange, I worked as a journalist at weekly newspapers the Beaudesert Times and the Gold Coast Sun in Queensland, as well as the Scone Advocate in the Hunter Valley. I started my career at the Ridge News in Lightning Ridge while I completed my journalism studies remotely at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst.
