Federal funding to build a new two-lane roundabout at the intersection of Byron Bay Road and Byron Street, Lennox Head has been pledged by local MP Justine Elliot (Labor).
She says it will cost $1,533,144 and is funded as part of the Australian government’s Black Spot Program.
‘We all know how risky and dangerous it can be driving in and out of Lennox. Our community has been calling for this roundabout – and Labor is delivering!’, Mrs Elliot said.
‘As your strong voice in the Albanese Labor government, I’m proud to announce this important funding to fix this dangerous intersection’.
For more information on the Australian government’s Black Spot Program, or to nominate a black spot, visit: investment.infrastructure.gov.au/resources-funding-recipients/how-nominate-black-spot-program/black-spot-funding-conditions.
How long will we be waiting until this becomes reality?
Many drivers find present temporary arrangement confusing & dangerous.
In all honesty it is Cr Keri Dicker who has been working on this with community for years and organised the temporary roundabout during a main street closure which put extra pressure on the Byron St/Coast Rd intersection. It kind of annoys me a lot to be pointing this out and sticking up for the Greens on this but Justine – you should have acknowledged the effort she has made and her long campaign and been inclusive in this announcement – no need to pop out of the car and stand by the road alone for the photo – because you are jumping in on the hard work of other people here and we didn’t even know you were interested in this Council issue.
I also want to add for both Kiri and Justine to ponder – why does it cost $1.533 million to build a roundabout on the Coast Rd. I recognise every time Ballina builds another one they always cost this much but I am absolutely mystified that you could build a 3 bedroom house with garage and swimming pool for less.
“ It kind of annoys me a lot to be pointing this out and sticking up for the Greens” – oh yeah!
But this is sort of what happens, Catherine. The local community identifies a need and sometimes governments step in to fund them. What are you saying – Justine should butt out? She shouldn’t be interested in local government issues and stick to her patch?
Btw where’s this photo you write of?
I just wish somebody gave a stuff in Byron Shire. While the Coast Road drive to Ballina has become a series of roundabouts I can’t help but compare the situation with a couple of intersections on Broken Head Road – basically a continuation of the same Coast Road – that have been crying out for traffic control for decades.
If Byron doesn’t have the resources for roundabouts they could put in traffic lights – again something Ballina Shire doesn’t dodge – but for some reason they’re anathema to certain Green? philosophy in BB
The photo was on Justine’s Facebook post. Kiri agitated with Ballina Council and the Council made a submission for Federal Government Blackspot funding. As the Federal MP Justine was advised in advance as a courtesy that Ballina Council’s submission had been successful. Instead of informing Council and bringing together the people who actually did the work to get the grant – instead of even engaging with Lennox locals who use that intersection, Justine drove past Lennox popped out of her car and had her photo taken in front of the blackspot. She used that picture on her facebook to claim credit for the funding. This is why I say there was no need for her to stand alone – she could have included the people in the community who actually did lobby and submit for the funds. It would have been decent to have acknowledge how this was accomplished and being inclusive would also be appreciated. I dislike the way she defaults to politics and would much prefer an MP who defaults to community.
Oh Catherine, I think that you are following the Greens narrative somewhat here, Keri Dicker may have actively campaigned for the roundabout obviously along with others, but it does come down to who can actually deliver and fund it and in this case that’s probably only Justine Elliott. It’s rather ironic isn’t it, Justine is constantly attacked by the local Greens wannabees claiming that she doesn’t deliver, then when she does deliver the Greens immediately claim that it was them that somehow magically fixed the problem, seriously.
Fact: Justine did not submit for the funding. Keri Dicker and Ballina Council submitted. The funding was granted as a result of the submission. If a Labor MP had made the submission and Green announced it without acknowledgement I would absolutely call that out too. All I want is an MP who works with community and is willing to reach out across politics to get the results we need. The way Justine excluded everyone who actually made this happen turns a positive announcement into politics and frankly I despise that – regardless of Party we need our MPs to work with community.
Catherine, FACT, Justine has always delivered and worked well with the local community, she has been doing it for many years now, so don’t fall for the Greens mantra of constantly criticizing her no matter what she does; the Labor Party is a little sensitive at present and is well and truly over the Greens behaviour because of their obstructive behaviour in the Senate in blocking the Housing Affordability Futures Fund.
Whoever and whatever delivers this cannot happen fast enough.
But the one thing I absolutely agree with is 1.5 million for a roundabout? Where exactly does the money go? I find the price tags of all essential building services becoming absurd nowadays. It just feels like everyone’s gone into “F**k it” mode because none of anything lately is sustainable and it is obvious. The irony is that this very feeding frenzy is what is going to make the crash unsalvageable.
But don’t mind me. Go at it, one point five milly, sure, no problem. Bargain. Just like that silver driving hazard next to Byron industrial that was quietly thrown away eh?
It’s a bit early for a Federal Election.
Is that when the money arrives?