Member for Murray Austin Evans has thrown his support behind a new station for Griffith’s Fire and Rescue team, amid claims they struggle with an ill-placed roundabout.
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Crews say they have to regularly battle pedestrians and local traffic in trying to navigate medium-rigid trucks through roundabout outside the station.
The Jondaryan Ave and Yambil Street roundabout was described as a “nightmare” by one retained firefighter. Mr Evans said he’s already been in preliminary discussions with NSW emergency services minister Troy Grant, but nothing has been formally budgeted.
“I’ve had these discussions with Troy Grant already about ‘can we look at building a new one?’ We’ve got the new RFS one now, we’ve got the new ambulance station,” he said.
The world has changed, that whole precinct has changed, roundabouts have gone in. It’s not a good spot … If we can do something with that – I think that’s relocating – I think that’ll be a good thing to do
- Austin Evans
“If there’s room on that area it would be good to have the firies there as well. (We’ve) got to get the budget and stuff for a new station, but that’s what we’ve been talking about.”
While the discussions are only preliminary and nothing has been certain, Mr Evans is certainly open to exploring different options.
“The world has changed, that whole precinct has changed, roundabouts have gone in. It’s not a good spot. If we can do something with that – I think that’s relocating – I think that’ll be a good thing to do.”
A statement from Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) said it “would be happy to discuss this issue further with Council and Fire and Rescue NSW”.
Speaking to The Area News last week, MIA senior instructor Anthony Hatch had suggested a stop light at the entry points of the intersection’s would work, giving firefighters the ability to halt traffic until parked.
