Craters causing crashes: NSW regional roads a minefield
When a car flipped onto its roof this week, the pockmarked Clarence Way surface was blamed. Now the crash has sparked calls for action on the region’s roads by local residents and emergency service workers.
Lismore
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lismore. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Rural roads in the Northern Rivers are becoming well known for being a bit rickety but after another accident on the Clarence Way in the state’s north - residents and local fire brigades have had enough.
Tony Leggo was part of the Bonalbo Rural Fire crew who attended the latest accident where a coupe ended up on its roof.
“Two local Bonalbo residents were driving behind them and saw the rear swaybar of the car in front come off in the first set of potholes,” Mr Leggo said.
“The car then lost control and hit a second lot of potholes where it started to roll over.
“A crew of four as well as the Group Captain West attended that one.”
He said all of the district’s roads are in poor condition after back-to-back La Nina events and associated floods.
“I get it,” he said, “but when you’re forced to drive at 60 km/h or less on sections and meet someone on your side of the road coming around corners, it’s dangerous.
“Millions were spent recently on a section of the Clarence Way which was improperly mixed so it has to be done again.
“The accident should be a wake up call because it was sheer luck nobody died.”
Sandra and Geoff Murray witnessed the accident unfold and are adamant the coupe was not speeding.
“We should have gotten a photo of where the potholes were in relation to the rollover,” the couple said.
The Bonalbo residents described seeing the car doing about 80-90 km/h when it hit a section of smaller potholes, which caused the steering to become erratic.
“They then hit a much larger pothole, about one metre across and at least eight inches deep,” the Murrays said.
Bonalbo firefighter Joanne Leggo was on scene to assist.
“In my own opinion, I think that the condition of the road, with many potholes being unavoidable, has taken its toll on our cars and perhaps the car experienced mechanical failure upon hitting the smaller, hard to avoid, potholes,” Ms Leggo said.
“They may not have known that the car was at breaking point that day.”
Clarence Way, a major arterial road that connects NSW and Qld, demands improvement, according to residents and emergency personnel.
“Residents, tourists, and seasonal workers have been left to risk their lives daily,” Ms Leggo said.
“The witnesses were adamant the car was not speeding, which makes it even more frightening.”
Occupants of the car, seasonal workers with limited English, were uninjured.
Another government announcement for road funding and infrastructure under the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package is now available for flood damaged regions.
The state and Commonwealth have coughed up $312.5 million, with 26 councils eligible for a share of the pie.
The new Betterment program is open to councils in the following NSW local government areas: Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glen Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Richmond Valley, Singleton, Tenterfield, Tweed and Upper Hunter.
Bradman Cup: Team previews and players to watch
Country NSW has produced some of the best cricketers to play the game. Ahead of this year’s Bradman Cup, we’re putting the spotlight on the best young talent from the bush.
Foundation serves up ‘little bit of hope’ in cost of living crisis
The founder of an Indigenous food program dishing out meals across the Northern Rivers says he’s keeping a promise to his grandfather to keep “feeding our people - not just with food, but with hope”.