Farmers fear accidents at Goolma Rd intersection

The Editor,

I wish to comment on the article about Cadonia corner on page 23 of your paper of April 15-21. [“Cadonia corner upgrade greatly welcomed”, which outlined plans to upgrade the Goolma and Twelve Mile road intersection between Wellington and Gulgong. The article reported that Continental Wind Partners (CWP) Renewables had referred to the intersection upgrade in one of the project updates for its Uungula Wind Farm, to be sited north of Lake Burrendong, and that traffic to and from its wind farm would see increased activity at that intersection.]

The argument about the suitability or not of the present entrance to the Twelve Mile road at Wellington has been going on for over 50 years. There have been three attempts by traffic authorities to change the intersection to a T-intersection instead of its present ‘Y’ form.

After the last attempt in 2014, the then Wellington Shire Council purchased some land at the lower end of Wellington Correctional Centre with a view to making it part of a new T-intersection onto Goolma Road.

It is this piece of land which has been chosen for the upgrade mentioned in your paper. However not mentioned in the article was the fact that although there are two deceleration lanes proposed, planners have completely ignored planning for acceleration lanes to exit the road to Goolma and Wellington.

It is also not mentioned that in its submission, the Planning Department CWP’S consultant states that there will be between 200 and 400 vehicles entering the site in the morning and exiting at the end of the day, six days a week. They will all be forced to use this new intersection.

In discussions we have had with Transport for NSW on the issue we were told that the Dubbo Regional Council has put counters on the road and their text books on the subject state that the level of traffic did not warrant acceleration lanes.

NSW Farmers Association Wellington Branch would agree with this conclusion if the wind farm does not go ahead. But if it does, the conclusion reached by Transport for NSW is nonsense if in addition to present traffic the 200 to 400 vehicles come in the morning and go home at night six days a week for two years, as stated in CWP’S own submission.

If this matter is not rectified before construction starts, the Wellington Branch of NSW Farmers Association is very fearful there will be multiple accidents as workers queue up to and from work with lines of cars up to two kilometres long.

The Branch is currently seeking a meeting with Minister Paul Toole to endeavour to have the matter rectified.

Peter Carter, Chairman, Wellington Branch NSW Farmers Association

Praise for local alarm company

The Editor,

I have been dealing with Macquarie Alarms now for many, many years and recently needed two new remotes etc as mine had worn out over the years.

They quoted me a price and I had the money ready but they didn’t need to use one part.

The chap doing the job rang and said they’d reduced the cost by almost $50 – now that’s being honest as I would not have known if the part was used, or not.

This isn’t the first time Macquarie Alarms has been so kind to me.

I am 85-years-old and dealing with Cameron, Pete, Leanne, Julie and all the staff has been really good and being so honest, it’s really good for a business.

I can’t drive so they pick up my monthly alarm fees as well, this is a wonderful thing for them to do. Marie Leggate, Dubbo