Liberal calls for roundabouts

State Liberal representative for Peats Ms Debra Wales has urged Gosford Council to opt for roundabouts at key intersections rather than traffic signals.

"Gosford City Council is considering two options for the intersections on Ocean Beach Rd at Dunban Rd and MacMasters Rd," Ms Wales said.

"Both involve either roundabouts or signalized intersections."

"Clearly, the Ocean Beach Rd Traffic Management Study states that two lane roundabouts at these key locations are the most effective form of traffic control and would have the lowest degree of saturation and queuing.

"If we have to cater for additional traffic, ensuring smooth traffic flow is essential particularly at these important feeder roads", said Ms Wales.

"By comparison, traffic lights at these locations would create three to four times longer queues at morning and afternoon peaks which would create havoc on Ocean Beach Rd.

"We have already seen how ill-considered traffic lights at Allfield Rd and Blackwall Rd have contributed to traffic congestion.

"Residents do not want a repeat of those problems on Ocean Beach Rd".

Ms Wales said that she was concerned that council was planning to install traffic lights at both intersections as opposed to roundabouts as they are cheaper to construct even though they will cause considerably more congestion.

"The Peninsula deserves proper traffic facilities rather than cheap alternatives," Ms Wales said.

"If roundabouts are the most efficient in terms of traffic management, as the Study states, then that is what should be built.

"If traffic lights are installed, this will mean that motorists will have to confront two sets of lights within 200 metres on top of a 40kph school restriction zone," said Ms Wales.

"I am urging council to opt for the more efficient two lane roundabouts with flashing school zone lights at South Woy Woy Primary".

Ms Wales said she was also very concerned that council was planning to implement No Parking, both sides, along the full length of Ocean Beach Rd making it a Clearway.

"If we are not careful, Ocean Beach Rd is going to resemble Parramatta Rd in the next few years".

"Of more serious concern is that the study was partly predicated on predictions that the Peninsula population will grow by 12,400 people," Ms Wales said.

"Traffic facilities are being designed on the assumption that our population will grow by 38 per cent.

"This is in direct contradiction to the recently released Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy which predicts the Peninsula's population growth to be no more than 7500," said Ms Wales.

"Which figures are correct?

"Before council makes any big decisions about Ocean Beach Rd traffic improvements, we should agree on which predictions are right.

"We may be building expensive engineering works for entirely the wrong reasons."

Press release, August 15 Debra Wales, Liberal representative for Peats