Residents urge council to fix Scenic Highway before another fatality
FED-UP residents have made an impassioned plea to Central Coast Council to fix a deadly stretch of the Scenic Highway at Terrigal where mother and wife Annabelle Deall was killed in August.
Central Coast
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DOZENS of fed-up residents have made an impassioned plea to Central Coast Council to fix a deadly stretch of road in Terrigal before more lives are lost.
Residents on the Scenic Highway say they warned the former Gosford Council for years about the increasingly dangerous stretch of road out the front of iconic The Cowrie restaurant, where mother-of-four Annabelle Deall was tragically killed on August 6.
And now almost 100 residents, led by GP Kevin Coleman, have banded together to vent decades of frustrations in a bid for a safety overhaul of the Scenic Highway.
Emotions ran high at a community meeting — hosted by Robertson federal Liberal MP Lucy Wicks — on Tuesday as local residents opened up about their fears of another tragedy occurring at four intersection hot spots: Tramway Rd, Bellevue Cres, Barnhill Rd and Hillcrest St.
“If we don’t slow traffic down on Scenic Highway, we will have another death on this road in Terrigal. I’m sure of it,” Dr Coleman said.
“Speeding motorists in this area are a massive hazard. Life is too precious not to do anything. We need action from council now.”
The GP said he warned council earlier this year about his fears someone would be killed on the Scenic Highway.
“Three months prior to the tragic loss of life (of Mrs Deall) I wrote to council warning there’d be a death on the road unless they did something to reduce speed after we’d had a few near-misses in the area,” he said.
The residents are being supported by Mrs Wicks, who this month nominated the Scenic Highway for black spot funding.
“Residents have had concerns about this road for years; and they want to see something finally done,” the federal MP said.
“Every tragedy has a big impact … and I stand by these residents fighting for safety improvements.”
The Express Advocate has spoken with nearly 20 residents who live on or near the Scenic Highway since Mrs Deall was mowed down as she crossed the road with two girlfriends out the front of The Cowrie on a night that rocked the seaside suburb to its core.
Antoinette Lawless, who lives at the intersection of the Scenic Highway and Barnhill Rd, implored council to “stop sitting on their hands” and make the much-needed safety upgrades.
“We’ve seen five accidents in recent years out the front of our house, including one in January when a P-plater ploughed into three cars causing $100,000 damage,” Mrs Lawless said.
“We’ve also contacted council but nothing gets done. My husband (Bradley) and I are just so concerned there will be another death on Scenic Highway.”
Laura Tasker, 32, says she fears for the safety of her children, Jacob, 2, and baby Isabella, as she takes them out of her car during regular visits to family who live in the area.
“I really only have a matter of seconds to get my children out of the car safely before a car comes past,” she said.
“You have to be really, really fast because there’s not one safe place to cross on Scenic Highway.
“We need more warnings — and safety upgrades — along this road to alert people to pedestrians and to make drivers slow down. Otherwise something really bad will happen again.”
A council spokeswoman declined to respond to residents’ direct concerns but said it supported Mrs Wicks’ push for black spot funding for the highway.
FATHER FEARS WORST FOR HIS KIDS
Terrigal resident Geoff Channells fears for the lives of his two children, Hayden, 9, and Tyla, 7, as they face the daily danger of the Scenic Highway.
Mr Channells, who lives in Bellevue Cres, said a pedestrian crossing and other safety measures were urgently needed on the busy road.
“We dice with death every day just to get out on to Scenic Highway, and people need to realise there are no pedestrian crossings (in a 3.2km stretch) between the Terrigal Esplanade and Charles Kay Drive,” Mr Channells, 44, said.
“There are three big trees obscuring our view as we try to turn out of Bellevue on to Scenic Highway.
“Council needs to remove these trees first before looking at speed deterrents, other than speed cameras.
“If these things don’t happen soon, I’m certain there’ll be another death. It’s that bad.”
The driver accused of killing Ms Deall her is due back in Gosford Local Court on December 2.
Menouar Belkadi, 22, of Kincumber, is charged with three serious offences including dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death.
COMMENT, by Matt Taylor
EVERY now and then a story tugs at a reporter’s heartstrings. And the tragedy of Annabelle “Annie” Deall’s senseless death has profoundly affected me.
I was at the accident scene on the night on August 6 when the mother of four boys under six was allegedly ploughed into by a motorist who is facing serious charges over the incident.
It was extremely distressing for everyone to witness what had taken place. It was the perfect storm of events that evening at 7.35: a wet road at a horrible blind spot at the intersection of Scenic Highway and Bellevue Cres just as Mrs Deall and two of her friends were crossing for what meant to be a joyous (and rare) girls’ night out.
Mrs Deall’s husband, Simon, kindly allowed me to cover his beloved wife’s funeral, which was heartbreaking. This was an angel cruelly taken away from her husband and young boys, as well as many friends and other family, way too soon.
It came after residents had been warning the council for many years of a tragedy waiting to happen.
As a Terrigal resident myself, I know why there are grave fears of another fatality.
Speed has long been a concern on Scenic Highway, which is now a major thoroughfare in the popular tourist location. And going out for a walk around Scenic Highway is highly dangerous. There are no pedestrian crossings in a 3.2km stretch from the Esplanade to Charles Kay Dr.
And what is council doing about this serious issue? Nothing. There are seemingly no plans in place to tackle the problem. And, given the years of warnings by ratepayers in the area, that is an utter disgrace.
This must be made a priority by council, which is showing no signs of listening to many despairing residents across the region.
Residents would feel much better knowing that council was at least looking at conducting feasibility studies, or a simple acknowledgment that there are serious road safety issues at Terrigal. Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks has taken the time to listen to residents’ concerns — and has now put in for black spot funding for the stretch of highway which council is responsible for. For all this, Mrs Wicks deserves a pat on the back.
It’s been more than three months since Mrs Deall’s death. The emotional wounds are still deep for all her friends and family. This alone should be enough for council to wake up to itself and make safety improvements for Scenic Highway a top priority.
Please, do it for Annie.
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