Saturday 29 November 2014

The Root Of The Problem For NSW RMS Phase Walkway Decision, Luxford Road, Mount Druitt - To Become A Positive Is..... A Tree!

So I am learning and learning more each day and I don't care if I turn 100 years and still learn (I'm already past the halfway mark).

With the 'Phase Walkway' proposal of improvements required at Luxford Road, North Mount Druitt, traffic light intersection  entrance to Westfield Mount Druitt, I now understand how Blacktown City Council cannot make a decision of this improvement by themselves. The reason being is Council owns about 80% of the roads, with Blacktown Local Government Area, which leaves the major arterial roads owned by NSW Roads and Maritime Services.

A Council spokesperson advised, 'That the traffic lights mentioned were approved on the old laws that only required one pedestrians Phase Walkway on the Western side of the major arterial road. In these days, it was most likely the area was low density housing. Since then, the North Mount Druitt area has changed to median housing developments.

At the same time, the population of pedestrians using pathways and crossing roads has increased, originally there may have been a need to place a 'Phase Walkway' on the western side of the major arterial road and  they used it to crossover to and from Westfield Mount Druitt.

New traffic light laws since has been introduced - for Phase walking to be implemented and constructed on all directions of the intersection. This new law does not cover previously constructed   existing traffic lights (old law).

So the number one problem to be fixed is new laws do not cover old laws which to my understanding doesn't make sense. Mind you I'm not legally minded person!

The other root cause to this improvement is there is a tree in the way of the Phase Walkway, and it has to be removed. The costs to cut down tree are too much for NSW RMS to consider. Yet, if the new laws were to have overtaken the old laws, then maybe the process may not have been left to  this current stalemate situation

I'm not  by any means a 'legal authority' but if laws change, then they should change so it covers existing infrastructure.


Where I am standing is directing the direction where the Phase would be placed missing the tree (on the left handside)
 This is on the Northern side of
Luxford Road, you can see how  the 'Phase Walkway' would not interfere or be in the way of the tree, (on the left hand side).




 We will seek RMS to reconsider their decision, through Transport Officers of Blacktown City Council who are also lobbying for this most improvement improvement. Maybe Councillors at least, from Ward 4 would offer their support and the Member for Mount Druitt Mr. Richard Amery as well. We will need as much support as we can get!

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