Ballina Bypass Blues

Three traffic fatalities on the Pacific Highway within 22 hours last week have left the residents of Ballina and other coastal communities wondering how many deaths are required before something is done.

Community leaders in Ballina, Byron Shire and other coastal communities have been calling for urgent action for some time now. The Pacific Highway needs to be made safe for the growing numbers of people who use it.

Carnage

The point was driven home quite literally when a 35-year-old UK tourist was killed in a head-on collision with a semi-trailer 3 km south of the Bruxner Highway junction just before midday on Thursday. A little over 12 hours later a 30-year-old Lismore man died when his utility was wiped out by a B-double truck 500 m south of the same junction. About nine hours later a 21-year-old Byron Bay woman was hit by a campervan 20 km south of Woodburn.

The NRMA estimates that upgrading the highway to a dual carriageway would prevent nine out of ten head-on crashes. Some local leaders have joined it in calling for the upgrade to be fast-tracked.

Bypass

The absence of a bypass round Ballina is clearly a contributing factor. At present all highway traffic, including the numerous heavy trucks are routed through the town close to its centre and past the main shopping complexes.

A bypass would divert passing traffic and relieve the town from traffic congestion and unsafe situations. It would also produce a safer intersection with the Bruxner Highway.

Comprehensive

Is a highway upgrade enough though? Local debate suggests that we should be looking for a comprehensive transport solution rather than piecemeal traffic diversion.

Will a Pacific Highway upgrade on its own not simply add to the problems facing coastal communities? Will it not simply help put more heavy trucking traffic on a key artery, producing as many if not more unsafe situations than it alleviates? Will it not simply add to the environmental problems we are already having to contend with?

Rail

Clearly, we need to be looking for a comprehensive transport solution which balances conflicting transport needs. We have to put all the options on the table: the coastal and inland road links along with the option of resurrecting rail and anything else that is relevant.

In the coming months as we head towards the New South Wales state elections in March 2007, Byron Ballina Greens will be considering these and related matters. If you would like to help us find a solution, please contact us now.