Tragedy lingers, 10 years on

Last week his parents Fred and Rosanne marked the anniversary of the 15-year-old’s death with family and friends at a Memorial Mass.

Despite the passage of time, Mr Bianchini said he still held out hope that something would eventually be done at the site.

“I thought we would have had traffic lights there by now because they’ve put the three sets of lights in town,” he said.

“I think the Yoogali intersection would have been ideal for them. It’s disappointing. But I don’t think we could have pushed any harder than we did for that intersection to be improved. After 10 years you do lose a bit of hope. Still, we’ve never let go of it. I think we’ll always be hoping that something gets done.”

The meeting point of Burley Griffin Way, Mackay Avenue, Irrigation Way and Kurrajong Avenue has been the site of countless accidents over the years, yet the crossing still remains one of the most dangerous blackspots in Griffith.

Mr Bianchini said the sheer volume of traffic moving through there was enough reason for lights to be considered.

“There is a car dealership being built on the corner now and that would mean more traffic, so maybe something will happen,” he said

“The trouble is that it’s not a proper crossroads, it’s on an angle and you can’t see to the left.”

Mayor John Dal Broi said the fact that nothing had been done was a “disgrace”.

“I had a bad accident there myself many years ago,” he said.

“It’s something that’s been there for years and something needs to be done about it.

“It is a difficult intersection with the railway and the main drainage channel, but it’s not impossible to do something. 

“I don’t have much time for the RMS. All they are good for is coming up with excuses why it shouldn’t be done. How about they tell us what we can do to improve it and put some funds towards it.

“I do not accept that some engineer couldn’t come up with a design to improve that site.”

Comment was sought from the RMS but not received.