A petition is calling on the council to upgrade and seal the roads servicing The Hatch which residents describe as dangerous and full of potholes.
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Stuart Redman, as a representative of residents, outlined concerns and spoke in support of the petition at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s October meeting.
The council noted the petition and its inclusion as a submission to the Draft Unsealed Roads Policy.
Mr Redman told the Port News the call to seal the roads was all about safety.
“It’s not a gravel road, it’s a muddy road,” he said.
The road condition deteriorates during wet weather with vehicles sliding off the road, while vehicles regularly sustain punctures.
“We have a lot of residents with tyre damage, because the road is so full of potholes,” Mr Redman said.
He said the road was very dangerous and there was going to be a bad accident if the road wasn’t upgraded.
The road was sealed until it was ripped up, in part, 15 years ago, and while some short sealed sections remain, the majority is unsealed.
Resident Rick Flanagan said the road condition was appalling.
“Once it does get rain on it, you can slip all over the place,” he said.
“It does turn to slosh. When it’s dry, the dust is appalling.”
Resident Anne Flanagan said residents were starting to get booked by police because their cars’ number plates were obscured by mud.
Residents say road grading does not fix the potholes.
Mayor Peta Pinson confirmed she would meet with residents, while she would also ask about the history of the road.
The council maintains more than 450 kilometres of unsealed roads across the local government area.
Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann said the petition represented the residents’ point of view and it would be considered as a submission to the Draft Unsealed Roads Policy.
The draft policy will come come back to the council for further consideration after the close of the submission period.
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