Council must campaign on Woy Woy Rd
The campaign to see Woy Woy Rd reclassified as a State road now rests with Gosford Council, according to the Council's director of city services Mr Stephen Glen.
Mr Glen said it was up to council to continue both to develop its case with the RTA for Woy Woy Rd to be seen as a strategic link to the overall road network and to take all opportunities to highlight the proposal in all suitable forums.
Following a question without notice from Cr Jeff Strickson on the progress of council's plans to hand over responsibility of Woy Woy Rd to the State Government, Mr Glen said a meeting had been held to discuss the "best way of progressing" the proposal.
"A meeting was attended by the regional manager and relevant director of the RTA, council's general manager and myself to discuss the best way of progressing this proposal," Mr Glen said.
"The RTA representatives reaffirmed that the recent review of road classifications is now considered complete and this matter must be considered as a new dealing.
"The RTA representative confirmed that there is no specific series of standards a road must satisfy to qualify for classification as a State road.
"The individual circumstances of the road will always be considered, with factors such as traffic volume, relevance to the overall regional road network, strategic links with other areas and proportion of heavy traffic taken into consideration."
Mr Glen said RTA representatives stressed to council that there was no single test to determine whether a road should be reclassified.
"The question was posed of the RTA as to how council, in their view, should manage the development of strategies for the upgrading of Woy Woy Rd to be an even more important element of the road network within the region, which would in-turn strengthen the case for it to be reclassified as a state road," Mr Glen said.
"Potential matters to be addressed included the identification of funding sources for necessary upgrading works and planning of the development along the route so as to enhance the function of the road.
"This work would also require the development of proposals for specific locations such as the establishment of a more suitable crossing of the main northern railway.
"The RTA representatives acknowledged that the closure of Woy Woy Rd for a period in 2008 had highlighted the strategic importance of the road and without giving any promises, agreed that the RTA had a role in contributing to the development of upgrading proposals for Woy Woy Rd."
Council agenda COR.110 Q.108, 22 Sep 2009