Five crashes, including three causing injury, have been recorded in the past five years at the William Street/Munster Street intersection.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will undertake community engagement to inform consideration of extending the William Street median through the Munster Street intersection to improve safety at the four-way junction.

Port Macquarie Presbyterian Church's Reverend Scott Donnellan said the community consultation was a good step forward.

"Those of us who work or live nearby know only too well the sound of screeching brakes followed by the heart-stopping bang," he said.

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"It's a busy intersection with a school, the church and holiday accommodation nearby.

"It's only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed."

Mr Donnellan said congregation members had seen the carnage, because collisions had happened during Sunday services and also on Fridays during youth group times.

"I've had to advise our congregation members not to attempt to cross William Street on their way to or from church," he said.

A typical Sunday service attracts about 150 parishioners. Services are being live streamed at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The church first raised the intersection safety issue with the council in writing about five years ago.

The council's consultation will involve the wider community and key stakeholders including nearby businesses and residents along Munster and William streets.

Mr Donnellan believes the council will want to understand the effect on traffic flow and its impact on users before making a decision.

"However, my hope is that the overriding concern will be for human life," he said.

"My fear is that one day I may be conducting a funeral for a victim of this dangerous intersection."

Extending the median strip would force traffic to use alternative routes for some trips.

"The inconvenience to traffic would be relatively minor for the majority of trips, particularly with the nearby William Street/Murray Street roundabout permitting all movements including U-turns," a council report said.

The council views traffic lights as the most appropriate long-term answer.

A roundabout is not appropriate due to the physical characteristics of the site.

The council report said it was desirable in the short-term to implement a lower cost interim solution.

"Turn restrictions are traditionally the most commonly used treatments in similar situations," the report said.

"Restrictions supported by physical barriers, such as medians, are usually more effective than restrictions that only involve signposted turn bans."

The proposal is to extend the William Street central median through the Munster Street intersection.

Mayor Peta Pinson said there had been a number of awful traffic accidents at the intersection.

Port Macquarie Presbyterian Church representatives have met with Cr Pinson about the intersection and council staff have taken up the matter.

Deputy mayor Lisa Intemann said the proposal would be widely consulted.

She said extending the median strip would impact caravan park traffic and Busways, and had the potential to impact on shops located on the southern end of Munster Street.

The Local Traffic Committee endorsed a recommendation to the council to undertake community consultation about the proposal.

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