Minutes of Local Traffic Committee Meeting

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Local Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes 14 June 2022

MINUTES of the Local Traffic Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 14 June 2022

File No: I2022/666

Meeting Commenced: 10.35am

PRESENT:

Councillor: Phil Holloway (on behalf of Michael Lyon)

Transport for NSW: John Carey

NSW Police: Detective Chief Inspector Matt Kehoe

Siobhan Foley on behalf of Tamara Smith MP

Staff: James Flockton

Apologies:

Cr Michael Lyon

Transport for NSW: Penny Sutton

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest raised

Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Committee Recommendation:

That the minutes of the Local Traffic Committee Meeting held on 10 May 2022 be confirmed.

(Kehoe/Foley)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Matters Arising

Outstanding Issues/Resolutions

Regulatory Matters

Report No. 6.1 Deacon Street Sight Distance

File No: I2022/579

A customer request to investigate traffic safety concerns at the Bangalow Parklands access from Deacon Street has been received.

Drivers entering Deacon Street from Bangalow Parklands are having difficulty seeing eastbound traffic when vehicles are parked on the western corner of the access (refer to figure 2). This parking arrangement is formalised with 45-degree angle parking signage. The parking area is unsealed road shoulder with no marked bays (four spaces).

The sight constraints caused by these parked vehicles has been investigated for compliance with the Australian Standards. This investigation has revealed that the access (Bangalow Parklands) does not meet the current standard while vehicles are permitted to park on the western corner. It is also considered that if the parking spaces were not to be removed for compliance there is plenty of available kerbside, and off-street parking (Ashton Street carpark) to handle the current demand.

Therefore, staff propose to remove the existing 45-degree parking on the western corner of the access and mark yellow “No stopping line” -marking around both corners of the intersection and along Deacon Street (refer to figure 3).

Further “No Parking” signs will be a physical deterrent for non-compliant parking. The signs may also help with clarification for the no stopping area as the line-marking may get covered with mud when drivers leave the unsealed section of the carpark. (refer to figure 3).

Other Options Considered

· Do nothing (not recommended) – This option would present an ongoing risk to road users with non-compliant access sight distance (refer to figure 2), and poor surface quality of parking spaces (potential trip/slip hazard),

The limited sight distance increases the likelihood for fatal or serious injury crashes should a crash occur. The relationship between the angle of the impact, crash severity and speed are shown in figure 2.

· Retain a single 90 degree parking space (not recommended) – This option (refer to figure 4) would comply with the Minimum SSD of 45m as shown in figures 1 & 4.

The parking space pavement should be constructed and sealed. “No Stopping” signs to be installed to prevent parking near the driveway access.

This option would present ongoing maintenance issues caused by the large trees/tree roots where the area is to be sealed (pavement destruction) and may cause stress to the trees themselves (root damage and coverage).

Figure 1: Crash angle, speed, and severity relationship

Figure 2: Deacon St, minimum sight distance

Figure 3: Option 3 Proposed option (signs and lines)

Figure 4: Sight distance Option 2

Committee Comments

None

Management Comments

None

Committee Recommendation:

That Council:-

1. Support “No stopping” treatments around the corners of the access into Bangalow Parklands from Deacon Street, Bangalow;

2. The proposed treatments include:-

a. Line-marking (yellow), marked up to the existing footpath crossing the Bangalow Parklands access and will extend around the corners for approximately 24 metres on the eastern approach, and 12 metres on the western approach of Deacon Street (as per figure 3 in the LTC report); and

b. “No stopping” signs installed on the western corner of the access as shown in figure 3 (as per figure 3 in the LTC report).

(Kehoe/Carey)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Report No. 6.2 Events - Bangalow Billycart Derby 18 September 2022

File No: I2022/580

Summary

The Bangalow Billycart Derby has previously been reported to the 15 February Local Traffic Committee (LTC) meeting, the LTC recommendations where then adopted at the 24 March 2022 Council Meeting (Res 22-086).

The new proposed date is Sunday 18 September 2022.

There have been no other changes to the road closures.

Copy of 15 February meeting report with amended dates, updated information, and Traffic Guidance Scheme

The format for the temporary road closure will be the same as in previous years, with traffic diverted via Decan Street. The figure below summarises the area of the of road closure and proposed detour.

Traffic Guidance Scheme

Key Issues

1. The proposed TGS places signage on Lismore to Bangalow Road (B62) and TfNSW controlled Granuaille Road.

2. The western end of Deacon Street is a laneway not suitable to Heavy Vehicles as a detour to the Pacific Highway. However, the volume of HV on Sunday’s is very limited and not been a concern for previous years.

Council Implications

§ Budget/Financial

The event organisers have been invoiced $356.00 for the relevant Approval of Road Events pursuant to s144 of the Roads Act fee as per the Fees & Charges 2018/19.

§ Asset Management

Not applicable.

§ Policy or Regulation

All TGS’s are to be developed and implement by people with the appropriate level and type of accreditation.

§ Consultation

A condition of the endorsement of this event is that appropriate consultation is undertaken, including:

1. Advertising the impact of the event in the local newspaper and on the Council website.

2. Informing community and business that are directly impacted.

3. Liaising with bus and taxi operators.

4. Consulting with emergency services.

§ Legal and Risk Management

This road closure directly affects TfNSW controlled asset – Lismore to Bangalow Road (B62) and TfNSW controlled Granuaille Road. TfNSW Traffic Engineering Department requires separate approval of the TMP and TGS.

Committee Comments

None

Management Comments

None

Committee Recommendation:

1. That Council endorse the change of date for the Bangalow Billy Cart Derby to be held on Sunday 18 September 2022 for the temporary road closure below:

a. Byron Street, Bangalow between Ashton Street and Granuaille Road, between 6am and 5pm on the event day.

2. That the approval provided in Part 1 is subject to:-

a. Separate approvals by NSW Police and TfNSW being obtained, noting that the event is on a state road or may impact the state road network;

b. Traffic Guidance Scheme(s) to be developed by people with the appropriate TfNSW accreditation;

c. Traffic Guidance Scheme(s) to be implemented by people with appropriate accreditation;

d. That the impact of the event be advertised via a notice in the local weekly paper a minimum of one week prior to the operational impacts taking effect, noting it must include the event name, specifics of any traffic impacts or road closures and times, alternative route arrangements, event organiser, a personal contact name and a telephone number for all event related enquiries or complaints; and

e. The event notified on Council’s webpage.

3. That the event organiser:-

a. Undertake consultation with community and affected businesses including adequate response/action to any raised concerns;

b. Undertake consultation with emergency services and any identified issues addressed;

c. Holding $20m public liability insurance cover which is valid for the event; and

d. Pays Council’s Road Event Application Fee prior to the event.

(Kehoe/Carey)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Report No. 6.3 Writers Festival 2022

File No: I2022/587

SUMMARY

Committee Comments

None

Management Comments

None

Committee Recommendation:

That Council endorse the Traffic Guidance Scheme Plans for Writers Festival to be held 26 to 28 August 2022, in accordance with the following Local Traffic Committee recommendations:-

1. That the endorsement provided is subject to:

a) The installation and enforcement of signage on:-

i) Tweed Valley Way reduced speed limits around Gate C;

ii) Tweed Valley Way, Brunswick Valley Way and Pacific Motorway VMS directional signage be installed

2. That the event organisers are to undertake the following:

a) Separate approvals from NSW Police and TfNSW being obtained, noting that the event is on a state road or may impact the state road network;

b) The Traffic Management Plan and Traffic Guidance Schemes be implemented by those with appropriate accreditation;

c) That the impact of the event be advertised via a notice in the local weekly paper a minimum of one week prior to the operational impacts taking effect, noting it must include the event name, specifics of any traffic impacts or road closures and times, alternative route arrangements, event organiser, a personal contact name and a telephone number for all event related enquiries or complaints.

d) The event be notified on Council’s webpage with event details supplied to Council by the event organiser.

3. That the event organisers:

i) undertake consultation with community and affected businesses including adequate response/action to any raised concerns.

ii) undertake consultation with emergency services and address any identified issues/concerns.

iii) holds $20m public liability insurance cover which is valid for the event.

iv) pay Council’s Road Event Application Fee prior to the event.

4. Within 3 months after the 2022 Byron Writers Festival a report must be submitted to Council from the original TGS designer with comments of the effectiveness of the traffic control arrangements during the event and list recommendations if required for consideration by Council and other authorities for future events.

(Holloway/Foley)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Report No. 6.4 New intersection on Bangalow Road

File No: I2022/593

Council has received a Roads Act application associated with a development approval for Multi Dwelling Housing comprising five dwellings with plunge pools. Bangalow Road is a regional road MR545. As part of the approved D.A (10.2019.20.1) consent condition 11 imposed the following requirement:

11. Consent required for works within the road reserve

Consent from Council must be obtained for works within the road reserve pursuant to Section 138 of the Roads Act 1993. Three (3) copies of engineering construction plans must accompany the application for consent for works within the road reserve. Roads and Maritime’s concurrence is required prior to Council’s approval of works on classified (Regional) roads

Such plans are to be in accordance with Council’s current Design & Construction Manuals, Austroads Guide to Traffic Management Part 6: Intersections, Interchanges and Crossings and Australian Standard 2890.1 – Off Street Car Parking. The following are to be provided for the following works:

Full Width Road Construction - Stub upgrade

Full width road and drainage construction from Bangalow Road and up to the development lot. The following must be provided:

a) 6.0m wide carriageway;

b) Kerb & gutter on both sides;

c) Footpath on one side

d) Electrical & telecommunication services; and

e) Drainage.

New intersection connection to the main carriageway of the Bangalow Road (Regional Road)

Detailed design shall include:-

a) construction design;

b) sight distances;

c) swept paths;

d) treatments for turning traffic; and

e) consideration given to pedestrians and cyclists, and connection to public transport.

Given the proximity of Paterson Street the concept design should include both intersections and demonstrate integration of the proposed treatment with the existing intersection.

The purpose of this LTC report is to gain Council support for the proposed regulatory signage and line markings shown in attachment 1.

Committee Comments

All members: Return report to show correct signage (“no stopping” R5400)

Police & TfNSW: Consider left turn only and stop sign from new road onto Bangalow Road.

Police: Advise on the purpose of the no stopping signage and the consultation that had occurred.

Management Comments

None

Committee Recommendation:

That council note that LTC are deferring a decision until further reporting has been submitted to a future LTC meeting.

(Holloway/Kehoe)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

Report No. 6.5 No Overnight Parking - Bangalow Heritage House

File No: I2022/629

Council staff have been made aware that illegal camping is occurring adjacent Heritage House and Ashton Street, Bangalow.

The current informal parking arrangement and lack of regulatory parking signage makes the issuing of infringement notices in this area difficult for Council’s Enforcement Team.

Figure 1 - Approximate location of illegal camping

The following signage recommendations (refer Figure 2) are proposed to deter people from illegal camping and to assist Council’s Enforcement Team in effectively carrying out their duties:

· The installation of “No Parking Area 1am – 6am” and “prohibitive activities” signs at the entrance to the informal carparking area adjacent Bangalow Heritage House on Ashton Street, Bangalow.

· The removal of the existing “all day free parking” sign at the entrance to the informal carparking area adjacent Bangalow Heritage House on Ashton Street.

Figure 2 - Proposed signage to address illegal camping

Report Background

The above report was presented at the 12 April 2022 committee. The following comments were made by the committee:

John TfNSW - support the recommendation.

Siobhan - Parliament – Concerns for people camping in the area having nowhere to go.

Matt – Police – suggest Council follow up with homeless officer and defer to next meeting.

Management Comments Staff - Council follow up with homeless officer and defer to next meeting and report to next LTC meeting. Committee Recommendation: That Council acknowledge the comments of the committee and note the matter is deferred to the next available LTC meeting.

Committee Recommendation: That Council acknowledge the comments of the committee and note the matter is deferred to the next available LTC meeting.

Following the April LTC meeting the following comments were provided by Council’s Rough Sleeping Officer:

It is unlikely that people sleeping in vehicles at this site will be able to access any accommodation options in the short term. Post-flood feedback from homelessness/housing service providers is that there is a critical shortage of housing options for people in the region, including emergency/temporary accommodation. For example, those accessing emergency accommodation via the state funded Link2Home service are having to relocate significant distances from the region.

If possible, my first recommendation would be to delay installation of signage during this early stage of flood recovery until there is more clarity about the local response to the increasing housing crisis and the critical shortage of temporary accommodation options.

If this is not possible and the Committee decide to go ahead with the installation of signage, I would recommend liaising with Council’s Public Space Liaison Officers (PSLOs) as soon as possible. PSLO’s can engage directly with people camping at the site, providing them with adequate notice about the changes in parking arrangements and helping to refer to appropriate supports. Knowing the vulnerability of these community members, I would also recommend communication with PSLOs prior to issuing any infringement notices.

Committee Comments

None

Management Comments

None

Committee Recommendation:

That Council:-

1. Support the installation of “No Parking Area 1am – 6am” and “prohibitive activities” signs at the entrance to the informal carparking area adjacent Bangalow Heritage House on Ashton Street, Bangalow.

2. Support the removal of the existing “all day free parking” sign at the entrance to the informal carparking area adjacent Bangalow Heritage House on Ashton Street.

3. Public Space Liaison Officers directly engage with people camping at the site, providing them with adequate notice about the changes in parking arrangements and helping to refer to appropriate supports prior to implementing proposed signage changes.

(Kehoe/Carey)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried.

There being no further business the meeting concluded at 11.10am.

Venue	Conference Room, Station Street, Mullumbimby
Date	Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Time	10.30am