The council’s position on Roads and Maritime “warrants” over the safety at the intersection of Carp and Gipps St in Bega appears unwarranted.
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The advice from RMS has been used as part of the council’s justification to relocate the iconic Dr Evershed Memorial Clock Tower – a decision that has been met with widespread community outrage.
Bega Valley Shire Council director of transport and utilities Wayne Sartori told councillors and the gallery at the recent public meeting there were warrants from the RMS about the intersection, “some of which related to safety rather than traffic matters”.
However, an RMS spokesperson, in response to a media inquiry, said RMS “has not had any involvement, nor provided advice to council, about this project”.
It isn’t the first piece of seemingly incorrect information related to councillors and the public over the course of discussions into the clock tower.
As reported in February, a member of staff told councillors the clock’s relocation was a recommendation from landscape masterplan consulting firm Spiire, despite the final report making no such recommendation.
It was later referred to as a “minor error” by Mayor Michael Britten, who at the time said councillors were entitled to lodge a rescission motion if they felt their vote had been influenced by “partially incorrect” advice.
At its February 3 meeting, the council resolved in the majority to relocate the clock tower “to a more suitable location in keeping with its value to the community” and in consultation with the grandchildren of the Evershed family and the community.
However, a subsequent community engagement program by the council found almost unanimous opposition to the move.
Also, as reported last week, a great-grandson of Dr Montague Evershed, for whom the memorial was dedicated in 1930, has also expressed his opposition.
The council has still resolved to relocate the clock tower, but at a later date once traffic lights are installed.
However, the necessity of traffic lights at this intersection could well be questioned given this latest revelation.
The Bega Valley Ratepayers and Residents Association has written to the BVSC requesting the matter be investigated, “given it may have been misled as to the status of the intersection and the need for traffic lights”.
“Its judgement in the circumstances may have been exercised in a less than sound manner,” BVSRRA secretary/treasurer John Richardson said.
“Given the evidence that there is no factual basis for relocating the memorial, its heritage significance, the overwhelming opposition to its relocation voiced by the community, Dr Evershed’s family and the Bega Valley Historical Society...support for its relocation appears to be entirely limited to a few members of the elected council.”