Drivers, pedestrians and road users in Kempsey can look forward to a safer future with the adoption of revised road sealing priorities and a new Road Safety Strategy which aims to drastically reduce fatalities and serious injuries.
Created in collaboration with Transport for NSW, Kempsey Shire Councils' Road Safety Strategy 2024-34 lays out a series of actions designed to significantly enhance road safety and infrastructure.
In line with the strategy's aims, on Tuesday Council adopted the Road Safety Strategy and confirmed their commitment to better road conditions with a new priority list for new sealed roads. The list places key roads like Spooners Avenue and Pipers Creek Road in ranked order for grant funding, based on assessments of risk factors such as flood immunity, current and forecast population growth, and strategic location within the shire.
Kempsey Shire Mayor, Leo Hauville, celebrated this key moment in ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of all who travel within Kempsey Shire.
"These decisions are about more than just infrastructure, this is about building a safer future for Kempsey Shire," said Cr Hauville.
"We are aiming to cut road deaths by half and reduce serious injuries by 30% by 2030. From 2017 to 2021 our community suffered 107 serious injuries and 14 fatalities from road incidents in Kempsey Shire. Reducing road fatalities and serious injuries by such significant margins is not just a goal, it's a necessity."
"Council's adoption of this strategy and road sealing prioritisation marks a collaborative approach to improve road safety and infrastructure, supported by the potential for external funding for these initiatives."
The new list of road sealing priorities is as follows:
- Spooners Avenue (Chain O Ponds Road to Collombatti Road)
- Piper Creek Road (End of Seal to Wirrang Drive)
- Pipers Creek Road (Wirrang Drive to Ballengara Road)
- Collombatti Road (Swan Lane to Hughes Access)
- Smiths Creek Road (Crowther Drive to Crowther Drive)
- First Lane (Gladstone Street to Smith Street)
These measures demonstrate Council's ongoing strong commitment to road safety and the well-being of the Kempsey Shire community, promising a safer, more secure future for all residents and visitors.
