Road Safety: a Top Priority

ROAD SAFETY:

A TOP PRIORITY

Clarence Valley Council now has a road safety officer after joining the Local Government Road Safety Program (LGRSP) - a partnership between Transport for NSW and Council.

The program aims to raise the profile of road safety in the community, councils and ultimately reduce the number of crashes on our roads. Road Safety Officer Alana Brooks (pictured) has a ROAD NETWORKmulti-faceted role which involves reviewing crash data, conducting road safety audits, identifying potential improvements, and applying for funding for works to reduce crash risk. Through this process, Council has secured $1.5M as part of the Saving Lives on Country Roads Initiative to improve safety on Iluka Road over the next two years.

“This project will involve a route length review and treatments along Iluka Road between Woombah and Woody Head and incorporates traffic calming measures at the high-speed entries to Woombah,”

Ms Brooks said. “We will also be looking at audio-tactile line marking in the non-residential areas and improvements around curves where crashes have occurred.” Ms Brooks said she was lucky to start at Council when $3.6M had already been secured to improve safety in 18 School zones through the School Zone Infrastructure Program. “We recently completed an upgrade at St Josephs Public School in Maclean that saw the installation of a new footpath, kiss and drop zone, pedestrian fencing, and better crossing points.” (pictured) Ms Brooks said she enjoys her role and was excited to be working on Council’s first Active Transport Strategy. The Strategy will replace the Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan 2015 and the Bike Plan 2015. “In the coming months we will be working with the community to develop a vision for walking and cycling in the Clarence Valley,” she said.

Images above: Alana Brooks at St. Josephs Maclean, where recent improvements have taken place,

“We want to get more people out walking and cycling and for the journeys to be easier and safer. The community will be asked where new pathways and road crossing points are needed.”

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Alana is part of the Local Traffic Committee, Access Advisory Committee and chairs the newly formed Safe System Working Group.

“The Safe System approach to improving road safety takes a holistic view of the road transport system and the interactions among the key components of that system: Safe Roads, Safe Vehicles, Safe Speeds, and Safe People,”

Through investigations and providing recommendations the group has been instrumental in securing funding for pedestrian and cyclist improvements in Minnie Waters and Angourie.