Safety Upgrade for Rous Road Roundabout Begins, Temporary Detours in Place

JEFF GIBBS

Lismore City Council has announced the start of a $1.1 million safety upgrade for the Rous Road and Oliver Avenue roundabout, aiming to improve motorist safety in the area. Funded by Transport for NSW under the Australian Government’s Black Spot program, the project is expected to take eight weeks to complete, weather permitting.

Addressing a History of Accidents

Over the past fve years, six accidents have occurred on or near the roundabout, highlighting the need for action.

“Something clearly needed to be done,” said

Lismore City Mayor Steve Krieg. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community, and this upgrade will deliver that.”

What the Upgrade Involves

The project will be completed in two phases:

1. Initial works: Upgrading existing drainage infrastructure and widening the road pavement to the north of the roundabout.

2. Construction phase:

Building a new, larger concrete and asphalt roundabout with a 6m-wide travel lane, improving access from Jubilee Avenue and the Caroona Marima Care Facility.

Temporary Traffc Changes

Starting Monday, 13

January, Jubilee Avenue will be closed to through traffc at the roundabout for the remainder of the works. A detour will redirect traffc via Phillip Street, McDermott Avenue, and Oliver Avenue. Stop/go signs and reduced speed limits will also be in place.

“We all have a role to play in road safety, and I want to thank the community for their cooperation and patience,”

Mayor Krieg said.

Key Safety Features

The upgrade includes:

• Improved sightlines by removing three trees on the northern side of Rous Road, which will be replaced nearby.

• Modifcations to the Caroona Care Facility driveways, changing the current entry/exit to an Exit Only and creating a new Entry Only point off Rous Road, approximately 40m west of the roundabout.

• Enhanced safety for vehicles turning at Jubilee Avenue and Rous Road, addressing confusion caused by their close proximity.

Background on the Black Spot Designation

The roundabout’s inclusion in the Black Spot program was based on:

• Limited sight distance due to large trees and low lighting.

• The crest of the intersection reducing stopping time for motorists exiting Jubilee Avenue.

• Historical accident data, with six recorded incidents between 2018 and 2023.

Future Plans

The Council has confrmed the development of another roundabout at Reserve Street as part of the broader Rous Road design, with timing yet to be fnalized.

For residents and motorists, the temporary disruptions during construction will lead to long-term improvements in safety and traffc fow. The Council urges all road users to follow the temporary detours and traffc controls during this period.

CASTROL LISMORE SPEEDWAY: MARCUS DUMESNY IS $10,000 RICHER AFTER LIL’ AUSSIE OPEN WIN

Marcus Dumesny’s 410 Sprintcar victory in the $10,000-to-win Lil’

Aussie Open at Castrol Lismore Speedway, Wednesday January 8, carried greater signifcance than just getting to the chequered fag frst.

It was a personal triumph over back injuries that stalled his career with a stint on the sidelines which also put his seasonal campaigns on hold for sometime – in fact his last victory was the New South Wales Sprintcar Championship on April 1, 2023 at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Speedway. Back in Victory Lane for the frst time in close to two years, an elated Marcus Dumesny summed it best with just a few words: “It’s been a long road back.”

Dumesny showed all his familiar speed , typifed when he put down the fastest lap of the Lil’ Aussie Open at mid-distance with a time of 11.309 seconds for a speed of 127.332 km/h around the tight confnes of the Lismore Showground bull ring.

Harry Stewart flled the runner-up position on the podium, while the drive of the night came from Luke Oldfeld who started from the back and charged from position 17 into third position!

Late afternoon – early evening rain delayed the start of the meeting, watched by a big crowd including City of Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg.

Several attempts were made to get the frst lap of the main event completed in incidents that took out one of the pre-race favourites Alex Attard.

When the 25-lap feature settled down, Dumesny commanded the role of pacemaker, chased hard by Stewart, while Mitch Randell was right with Stewart.

Further into the race, Brodie Davis gained ground on Randall. Randall became one of the hard luck stories of the race when he rode a wheel and crashed into the fence with 18 laps remaining.

Oldfeld was a man on the move as he threaded his way through the feld. American Andy Pake ran in ffth as Oldfeld loomed into contention.

Oldfeld passed Pake, then Mitch Gowland in a superb drive into the top three.

It was not an easy night for Oldfeld who had an incident in an earlier heat and fnished in the fence. Without a heat result it meant he started at the back in the feature race and what followed from Oldfeld was one of the highlights of the night.

The top ten fnishing order was Marcus Dumesny, Harry Stewart, Luke Oldfeld, Mitch Gowland, Andy Pake, Callum Walker, Nash

Morris, Tony Bridge, Daniel Bridge and Bradi Owen.

Heat wins went to Dumesny and Stewart.

The main focus of the pre-meeting publicity and mainstream media coverage was the appearance of Americans Pake and Chase Randall. However Randall was an unfortunate late withdrawal from the fxture.

Other feature race winners on what was a very successful and entertaining night of racing were Jacob Jolley (LS 360 Sprintcars), Matt O’Neill (Compact Speedcars), Lindsay Clapham (Production Sedans) and Mitchell Haynes (Wingless Sprints).

“Leemo has views on just about anything”

MUM JANE’S WARNING from COLESWORTH

‘Mum, WHY are you stomping around saying rude words? You’ve just been out to do our weekly ESSENTIALS shopping and, by the way, how come it took you so long? Well?’

(‘Leemo Cat’ here) I received a scowl from hell with a snarly demand I make her tea mixed with a nip of Brandy immediately. (OMG, she IS upset??) ‘Now, just listen Leems. I was ‘semi-arrested’ whilst I was shopping at Colesworth; I’m very stressed…gottit?’

(“SEMI” arrested?

Hmmm! is is a new one even for Mum who can come out with truly outrageous stu !) I spoke. ‘Oooh, poor Mumsie, (using my sleek soothy purry voice) I’m so saddened to hear about what must have been a dreadful experience; I’m quite certain it would not have been YOUR fault? Tell me what happened and we can talk about it’. She glared at me warily. ‘Don’t suck up Leems, you know I hate it!! Just bloody listen. I was ‘semi’ arrested simply for saying ‘kinda’ rude words out loud in Colesworth. Comprende?’ Eeeks! (NUP, I didn’t comprende at all but decided to err on the side of caution in this volatile situation.)

A er more Brandy nips than tea she settled. (aaargh!!) ‘OK Leems, let me tell you; there I was, minding my own business, wandering the Colesworth aisles with our ‘essentials’ list. Are you with me?’ ‘Errr, yep, I’m with you Mum.’ She continued: ‘AND, halfway down the Cereal aisle an o cial looking person with a uniform, badge (his name =

Hector…for crikey’s sake Leems, WHO gets called Hector? His parents must be most strange!) approached me & asked if we could have a chat. Leems, I glared at him and asked why he would wish to speak with a poor old Pensioner just going about her meagre shopping? ‘Hec’ haughtily informed me another shopper had bought to his attention I had been uttering rude words as I inspected the $ COST of stu .’ OMG, in my feline heart-of-hearts I believe what ‘Hec’ had to say was a 100% true probability. (Mind you, I was secretly enthralled by Mum’s story & can’t wait to tell my buddies ‘Mum’s a Crim!!) ‘So, Mum, what happened next?’ ‘Well Leems, in my best Pensioner (denture rattling) quivering voice, I told ‘Hec’ that the reason I used rude words was due to my dismay at the exorbitant COST of CAT FOOD (AND 90% of other essential items!) in Colesworth. I went on to explain (& chucked a few tears down my wrinkled cheeks) that my beloved Cat ‘Leemo’ was having to go without his favourite treats due to the cost & was facing appalling malaise; as he is my friend and companion I was considerably emotional & used rude words in error and therefore ‘Hec’ your Highnesty’, please accept my most utmost sorriness & promise I will NEVER use rude words in Colesworth again. Leems, I then added ‘Bless you & your Mum ‘Hec’ for bringing this to my elderly forgetful attention.’ Crikey!! ‘MUM, what happened next?’ ‘Well Leems, NOTHING MUCH ‘cept I was given an OFFICIAL warning by Haughty ‘Hec’ that if I use rude words again in Colesworth I’m banned & will get a FINE! ‘Mum, well, let’s go to ALDI… whaddya reckon?’ Ni y; her face lit up! Let’s go Leems. We’ll save heapsa $ & never have to go to Colesworth again. Whoohoo. Me & Mum had purry hugs & headed for our wee car. Nitey, Leemo.