What's been done?

When I first decided to do something about this construction traffic in our suburb, I initially wrote to the contractor (Devcon) and to Bathurst Regional Council (BRC).  Devcon replied and said it was not their call, they just do as they are told.  BRC advised:
 

"The Mitchell Highway is a state classified road controlled by Transport for NSW (TfNSW). The original development proposal included an additional access to the Mitchell Highway to service the Subdivision, as you have suggested,  TfNSW deemed that no new access was required, as the existing road infrastructure could accommodate the increased traffic load. Without TfNSW approval, Council is unable to provide any additional access to the highway."
 

Yeah right!! Look at the picture below, does it look like our existing roads can accommodate the increased traffic?

As TfNSW are, it seems, the cause of our problems, I wrote to them, with a copy to the then Regional Roads Minister, Sam Farraway, and also a copy to our local member Paul Toole.  I did receive a reply from TfNSW, stating that 

"The road alignment and topography of the Mitchell Highway adjoining Windradyne present challenges to providing additional access from the highway."

At the logical point for providing access to the new subdivision, there is a very wide verge on the highway, with a shallow ditch between the highway and the subdivision.  With all the road construction machinery that's on the site, it would not be difficult to construct turning lanes, and a culvert over the ditch to provide access.  TFNSW further stated:

"You can be assured that Transport for NSW is working with Bathurst Regional Council

to plan linkages from Windradyne and the other residential proposals in West Bathurst to

accommodate the traffic growth that will be generated by the subdivisions.

Vehicular access to, and a significant upgrade of, the Mitchell Highway is one of many

proposals currently being discussed to manage future traffic from the area."

It's strange that they feel a "significant upgrade" to the highway would be needed to manage the traffic, but that our "existing road infrastructure could accommodate the increased traffic load"!

I'd suggest that a better time to plan this would have been before the start of construction.

The last election intervened and I wrote again to the the new Roads Minister, Jenny Aitcheson.  Again I copied Paul Toole and he raised my complaint with the minister himself as well.  Ms Aitcheson did not reply to me, but did to Paul Toole, stating:

I am advised that the road alignment and topography of the Mitchell Highway adjoining

Windradyne presents challenges to providing additional access from the highway.

Transport for NSW is working with Bathurst Regional Council to plan linkages from

Windradyne and the other residential proposals in West Bathurst to accommodate the

traffic growth that will be generated by the new subdivisions. I understand this advice was

also provided directly to Mr Ashton by Transport for NSW in the attached letter dated 4

April 2023.

In other words, nothing's changed, suck it up!  The logical place to provide access from the highway is on a bend, however there is already a wide verge on the road that could accommodate turning and bypass lanes.  A bit of work, but not a lot of challenges there as far as I can see.

Frustrated by the lack of any action from the Regional Roads Minister and TfNSW, I have now written directly to the Premier, Chris Minns.  Paul Toole, whom I copied, said he would keep liasing with the Government and would raise a question in Parliament about this.  This was only a couple of weeks ago and I have not yet heard back from either of them.

As an when there is any update I will post it here, and if you let me have your email via the "About me" page I will email out any news to you.