White line fever to construct a pedestrian crossing between the old and new Mollymook shops on Tallwood Avenue is almost non-existent in council.
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This is despite 900 local residents’ signatures on a petition and some support from Councillors Patricia White and Allan Baptist.
“If we get through the next few months without a car or pedestrian accident I’ll be very surprised,” said residents’ spokesman Peter Earley.
“Hundreds of people - residents, parents and shop workers - are now extremely disappointed by the lack of urgent action.”
Mr Earley wrote to Shoalhaven City Council seven months ago, asking that council a include pedestrian crossing in planning around the new Bannisters Pavilion, about to open.
Bannisters’ bookings for summer starting from next Tuesday December 1 are already at 70 per cent and climbing.
This plus the arrival of thousands of families to other tourist accommodation for the busy holiday season foreshadows possible summer gridlock on Tallwood Avenue.
Bannisters will host private functions this weekend, then stage a gala on Monday night with Mayor Joanna Gash on the guest list to announce the official opening.
Bannisters has contributed to the cost of constructing car spaces in Carroll Avenue and kerbing and guttering on Tallwood Avenue that owner Peter Cosgrove estimates at “close to $100 thousand”.
“We would contribute another $5000 as a gesture of goodwill for the crossing but that’s the limit, we’ve got no more spare cash,” Mr Cosgrove told the Times.
Council staff feel Bannisters’ offer is insufficient to bring the project forward and it is not scheduled until the 2016-17 budget.
In a general media release yesterday (November 24) Federal Member for Gilmore Ann Sudmalis reiterated South Coast Councils would receive millions of dollars this quarter in Financial Assistance Grants and had “the flexibility to spend it on what they see as their local priorities”.
Shoalhaven will receive $1.42 million this quarter.
Cr White and Cr Baptist have previously been minority voices for the crossing to be constructed sooner.
Mr Cosgrove agrees the crossing is essential and urgent for everyone’s safety, including his own staff and suggests an immediate stopgap.
“I don’t know why they can’t go out and paint some white lines on the road and stick a couple of signs on the pavement as a temporary trial to help people cross from one shopping centre to the other,” he said.
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