MEMBER for Kiama Gareth Ward has accused Kiama Council of putting budgets before lives after it rejected responsibility for maintaining some of the proposed Gerringong Princes Highway upgrade access roads.
Councillors met on December 19 to discuss the proposed accesses NSW Roads and Maritime Services recommended after a review last year revealed safety flaws in the original design involving entering and exiting traffic from driveways.
The council supported maintaining the access road for Sims Rd, but said the others - three near Mt Pleasant and one at Toolijooa - should be maintained by the RMS or by private landholders after they are built due to the ongoing cost of maintenance.
It also expressed disappointment it was not consulted earlier in the process and resolved to meet with Minister for Roads Duncan Gay.
Mr Ward was "appalled" at the resolution.
"They knew at the time of election I was advocating an independent review and that I would support the outcome of that review," he said. "The changes to the design were service lanes that would make the road safer.
"How can they pick and choose? It seems it's alright when residents in one area need access, but not residents in another.
"They are playing political games and putting dollars before the lives of people."
Princes Highway Action for Safety Group chairman Robert Christie said the position was disappointing, especially because the access roads were not treated equally.
"I don't think it's generally in keeping with community concerns over safety - it's a retrograde step," he said.
"When the route was selected, it was put along the existing alignment so the council wouldn't have to maintain the old highway as a local road so they want to have their cake and eat it too - I see it as a direct result of their earlier policy."
Kiama Mayor Sandra McCarthy said the interchanges at Rose Valley and Belinda St were the two major accesses and the council was representing all ratepayers' interests, not just the residents who live along the existing Princes Highway.
"I want to make it clear that Kiama Council supports public safety," she said.
"We have every right as a council to comment on the designs, which is why we're seeking a meeting with the minister as a matter of urgency."
But Mr Ward said the access roads would not be just for the safety of the residents.
"They're for the safety of any motorist using the road," he said.
So far, no cost analysis has been done on how much pressure the roads would put on Kiama Council's budget, however director of Engineering and Works Bryan Whittaker said it would be a significant burden.
"As the road ages, the expected costs become more and more and more - it's an asset the community has to fund for life," he said.
Mr Christie said in his experience with other councils, rural roads cost about $5000 per kilometre a year on average to maintain.
"It's quite a bit of road, but not that much," he said.
Mr Ward said he would assist the council in meeting with the minister, but intended to deliver on his election promises.
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