Wagga City Council general manager Peter Thompson says he's heard Estella's traffic concerns

A controversial recommendation to remove the stop sign from the end of Pine Gully Road drew criticism from residents, who came forward with stories of near misses and fears for their safety.

However, Mr Thompson said there were plans in place to improve road safety.

“Growth has occurred at a faster rate than the infrastructure required to accommodate the population and increasing development in the area,” he said. “Council is currently reviewing the layout of key routes and intersections in the northern growth area to ensure stable functionality now and into the future. These routes include Pine Gully Road, Farrer Road, Estella Road and Boorooma Street.”

According to council, the wider Estella area was the second-fastest residential growth area in regional NSW. Among the plans to fix road safety were a widening of Farrer Road, a duplication of sections of Old Narrandera Road and Pine Gully Road, as well as a roundabout for the busy Old Narrandera Road-Olympic Highway intersection.

“Council is working collaboratively with the Roads and Maritime Service to improve the efficiency and safety of the intersection of Old Narrandera Road and the Olympic Highway, which will have flow-on effects and improve traffic movements in the area,” Mr Thompson said.

1. Will council be looking at safety along Pine Gully Road and Old Narrandera Road?

Council is aware of the community concerns in relation Pine Gully Road and Old Narrandera Road. 

The Wagga Wagga Integrated Transport Strategy 2040 (WWITS) identified all major roads that will require upgrading to improve their efficiency and safety as the Northern Growth Area continues to develop. A short-term action of WWITS was a traffic investigation to determine projects for traffic improvements within the Northern Growth Area and this is underway.

Pine Gully Road is a collector road and its intersection with Old Narrandera Road has been identified to be improved in WWITS. Council is working collaboratively with RMS to improve the efficiency and safety of the intersection of Old Narrandera Road and the Olympic Highway, which will have flow-on effects and improve traffic movements in the area.

2. What role will the traffic committee play in any investigation of safety in the aforementioned region?

The traffic committee is a statutory committee which provides specialist advice and direction to Council in relation to traffic management and road safety. Proposals and actions requested by both Council and the community are referred to the traffic committee for comment when they relate to alterations to traffic controls. 

The issue considered by Council on Monday night was the alteration of signage recommended by the traffic committee following representations made by a member of the community. 

3. If people have concerns about that or other roads, should they call council or someone else?

Anyone with road safety concerns on any section of road should contact Council.

We endeavour to be proactive in relation to road safety, however, we will always respond to community concerns as they arise. Council officers will inspect the areas where concerns have been raised and incorporate remedial action into our works program in consultation with Councillors and in consultation with the Traffic Committee where required.

If a community member has a concern about a state-owned road, such as a highway, enquiries can also be directed to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).

4. What road improvements have been implemented/planned for since housing developments began?

Recent improvements:

Growth has occurred at a faster rate than the infrastructure required to accommodate the population and increasing development in the area. WWITS identified the need to ensure that an integrated approach is undertaken when reviewing projects previously identified when these areas were approved.

Council is currently reviewing the layout of key routes and intersections in the Northern Growth Area to ensure stable functionality now and into the future. These routes include Pine Gully Road, Farrer Road, Estella Road and Boorooma Street.

The Northern Growth Area is an important part of the city’s fabric providing housing opportunities and accommodating are large portion of our construction sector’s employment growth. These neighbourhoods are growing at 5.3 per cent per annum, which is second fasted in regional NSW.

Council is working collaboratively with NSW Government agencies, industry, CSU and the community to ensure that appropriate infrastructure such as open space, community facilities and hard infrastructure is brought forward to support this exciting level of growth.

Since the adoption of WWITS and the development of Activation Strategy and Recreation Open Space and Community Strategy 2040, Council has received further support from key stakeholders to ensure that projects will deliver results for the community and city more broadly.  

5. Were there any development conditions on the Estella region housing developments pertaining to roads and if so, have they been carried out? If not, why not? Has council attempted to enforce them?

No conditions regarding roads outside of subdivision works have been issued to developers. Council recovers infrastructure funding from developers through S94 Developer Contributions. Due to the high level of growth, Section 94 Developer Contributions will be available to help fund infrastructure in the area.

6. What road safety improvements has council identified as necessary in the Estella/Boorooma/Gobbagombalin region?

Please see the response to Q1 regarding the traffic investigation identified in WWITS that is underway.

Please also see the current listed projects in the Delivery Program and Operational Plan, and Long-Term Financial Plan: