New Ballina Road Safety Plan
Ballina Shire Mayor, Councillor Phillip Silver announced this week that Council has approved the development of a new five-year Road Safety Strategic Plan for the Ballina Shire Council area.
“The plan will be developed to improve road safety for our residents and visitors. It is important we have a road safety approach that covers the road system that people who live and work in Ballina Shire use every day.”
“Our place as a major rural coastal community with a range of urban localities experiencing population growth means that we have high traffic volumes and a growing economy. We need to make sure road safety is a major consideration in all our plans for the area.”
“Council is committed to reducing the road toll and its tragic consequences and supporting the future development of road safety initiatives for the area,” he said.
The plan will identify ways that the community can be involved, and develop priority strategies targeting speed, drink-driving, fatigue and truck safety. Special road safety programs will be developed for younger and older people, and emphasis will be placed on passenger safety.
Extensive consultation will occur with groups most at risk of a crash. Meetings will be held with our young people, and the broader community to ensure we have road safety programs in place that are going to improve road safety outcomes.
In NSW around one quarter of casualty crashes on country State Highways involve speed and one in six casualty crashes on country State Highways involves a fatigued driver or rider. Around one in six casualty crashes involve at least one heavy truck.
Road Safety Officer, Natalie Chapman, said it is important the community own the plan. “Community consultation and ownership is the backbone of making this plan tick,” she said.
“Road Safety is a part of everyone’s lives,” she said. “We will be consulting extensively with community groups and local organisations with an interest in road safety. Community members can contact Natalie on 6686 1427 or email road safety comments to nataliec@ballina.nsw.gov.au”.
