The findings of a confidential audit by Transport for NSW, formally the Roads and Maritime Services, on the pedestrian crossing at Goulburn Street in Crookwell will not be released.
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The Upper Lachlan Shire Council said the audit deemed the safety at the walkway to be sufficient but a spokesperson at the state government department refuted this claim and said investigations are continuing.
The council has lobbied the state department to upgrade the crossing since a petition with more than 1500 signatures was tabled in March 2018.
The crossing is on a state road, which is owned and managed by the department.
In July, Transport for NSW told the Crookwell Gazette they would "work with the council and the community to make suitable recommendations and improve safety for all road users in the Crookwell area", this has not changed the spokesperson said.
The findings of a safety audit may remain confidential, however, the council in a media release stated, "the audit of the crossing concluded: while there were some behavioural issues, such as pedestrians milling near the crossing which was creating some confusion for motorists, there were 'no deficiencies' with the existing crossing."
It continued to state that the audit "found there are no safety issues with the crossing."
Officer in charge of Crookwell Inspector Matthew Hinton said, "we've had no serious accidents at the pedestrian crossing, one incident was reported to the police about a vehicle obstructing the view of the crossing, and the vehicle was asked to move on."
We've had no serious accidents at the pedestrian crossing, one incident was reported to the police about a vehicle obstructing the view of the crossing, and the vehicle was asked to move on.
- Inspector Matthew Hinton
However, IGA staff have told the Crookwell Gazette that although there haven't been any major incidents they witness near-misses almost daily.
The upgrades remain a high priority for the council and manager of transport services.
A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said that both organisations are collaborating to improve the safety for pedestrians from Colyer to Roberts Street incorporating the crossing.
"These investigations will be used to inform future funding submissions"
Works were completed in June last year including improved signage and line marking at and on the approach to the crossing, and in July a road safety audit was carried out under the Transport for NSW guidelines, a spokesperson said.
"Transport for NSW is working with the council to find a solution to reinstate the 'look out before you step out' messages on the kerb ramps, which need replacing."
The council was also "very disappointed" that a funding application for $750,000 towards an upgrade was unsuccessful.
The next meeting between the council and Transport for NSW is scheduled for November.
The council will continue to lobby Transport for NSW and make representations to the Member for Goulburn, Wendy Tuckerman to facilitate an upgrade, incumbent general manager John Bell said.
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