After 39 deaths on Appin Road since he started campaigning for action, Fred Borg says he has had enough.
He says that until Appin Road is made safe by widening it and making it a divided road he will not support any more housing developments which bring more cars onto this highway of death.
“They want our city to grow, but at what cost – how many more deaths do we have to have on Appin Road before they will do something,’’ Councillor Borg told last night’s Campbelltown City Council meeting.
“There have been been some bits and pieces of work done but when are we going to do something real on Appin Road?
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“I lived in Appin for 10 years and I can tell you if you have loved one coming home on that road and you hear sirens you worry it may be them. It is just awful for these people.[/social_quote]
“I make it clear that I will continue to vote no for any development along Appin Road, including Mt Gilead.’’
Mt Gilead is a proposal to rezone land along Appin Road to pave the way for major new housing development.
In May, after placing Mt Gilead on exhibition, council asked the State Government for a commitment to an Appin Road upgrade, as well as a timetable.
It got neither when the reply came back.
The State Government told council it had launched a study into major infrastructure needs of the growing south west region.
The study would be completed some time later this year, the letter said.
Council also called for a report of traffic accidents between 2005 and 2015 along Appin Road between the Appin Town Centre and Copperfield Drive, Rosemeadow and separately along the section of the M31 that exits within the Campbelltown Local Government Area.
The report found that in the Campbelltown LGA section of Appin Road (6.5km) there were 79 accidents, one fatality accident in 2006 and one fatality accident in September 2014; there were 57 injuries in 42 accidents.
In the Wollondilly LGA section of Appin Road (3.6km) there were 64 accidents with no fatality and 39 injuries in 32 accidents.
In comparison the total accidents for the full length of the Hume Motorway (approx. 21.4km) within the LGA was 987 accidents for the same period.
The data showed that there were 13 fatalities from 11 accidents and 559 injuries from 422 accidents.
“Even if we lose just one more life on Appin Road before something is done is too high a price to pay,” Cr Borg said.
Michelle Maroun
Good onya Fred
Thanks Ricardo Carlo Lonza , not once has wollondilly council ever raised its concerns about that road or those who travel on it, the town of Appin sits right in the middle of that stretch of road. It’s a nightmare as 3 councils share a bit of the road . Fred Borgs words ring true , I just wish wollondilly council has the same views ..