Many people in the community have asked, how did we miss the plan for traffic lights for the Suffolk intersection?
The answer’s simple, we weren’t informed and weren’t asked for comment.
The recent grant process for traffic lights began last year.
In the May 23, 2024 Byron Council meeting agenda, Cr Dey spotted in a grant report that staff were considering a grant for traffic lights at Suffolk Park. He highlighted that there was no Council decision or community consultation to support traffic lights. In the meeting it was revealed the grant application had been lodged on May 10. Cr Dey also raised a 2017 Council decision for an Options Report to ‘review all facets of the design process for the intersection’ that hadn’t been delivered. Cr Dey was able to put that prior action on the record again and was advised by staff that it could be done prior to the grant finalisation.
The November 28, 2024 Byron Council meeting agenda included the Options Report, recommending traffic lights as an interim option, despite not considering all options. It failed to consider the NSW Road Action Plan priority safety measure of speed reduction, or other designs including a mini-roundabout.
The view that a roundabout isn’t possible without land acquisition may be incorrect. The Action Plan supports roundabouts as more efficient and cost-effective than traffic lights and when there are site constraints, features mini-roundabouts as part of safe design solutions.
A review of the available information has identified that the criteria for traffic signals aren’t met. The report failed to mention that there’s been no accidents since the removal of the left-turn lane into Clifford Street.
Grant variation possible
Mayor Sarah N’diaye queried if a deferral for community consultation and grant variation were possible. The answer from staff was no to both. The $1.8m grant had been approved and councillors were informed it would be lost if the December 13, 2024 deadline for acceptance wasn’t met. A vote to support the grant was successful.
Council is meant to be transparent and inform and engage the community and respond to their views. Last week three locals opposing traffic lights spoke at Council, presenting viable alternative safety options, but were ridiculed about having a ‘Do Nothing’ approach. Now it’s also been revealed that the grant can be varied. A petition has been lodged with 1,091 signatures opposing traffic lights.
The question now is will Byron Council listen and resolve to do a grant variation to deliver an alternative to traffic lights to improve safety, queuing and delays in Suffolk Park?
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