Walla Avenue is an accident waiting to happen according to Griffith resident Jane Greig.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
According to Mrs Greig residents of the housing estates on Heath Crescent are having to walk along the road surface on Walla Avenue when traveling into town.
Mr Greig said the road reserve itself is too rough and weed infested to walk along.
Ms Greig said she has been trying since 2015 to get Griffith City Council and Housing NSW to do something to improve the situation but has been unsuccessful in her lobbying.
Indeed in May 2017 a women was killed after being hit by a car while walking into town along the side of Walla Avenue from Heath Crescent.
Ms Greig said the lack of lighting and any form of established pedestrian walk way along the road reserve on Walla Avenue is posing a real danger to residents, especial when walking along the road at night time.
“The only place you can walk is on the road because of the bindies, this road is very busy It’s a heavy truck road with semi trailers,” Mrs Grieg said.
“There should be somewhere safe to walk down this part of town, they promised all of this after my friend was killed, nothing has happened so I have asked Austin to come down.”
Related
In January, Mrs Greig met with Member for Murray Austin Evans to discuss what can be done to improve access and avenue for pedestrians
“When I get the opportunity I will be speak to Griffith City Council,” Mr Evans said.
“There is not a huge amount I can do, this is a local government Issue, I can talk to council and say if funding is the issue they can talk to me to look at funding options if that is an impediment,” Mr Evans said.
However, Griffith City Council has denied that its is their responsibility to make the road reserve accessible for pedestrians.
"The Griffith Pedestrian and Bicycle Strategy does not identify a footpath along the south-eastern side of Walla Avenue between Watson Road and the pedestrian walk way to Heath Crescent,” Griffith City Council operations director Phil King said.
“Council is not going to promote pedestrian access along the rear of properties in Walla Ave that front Heath Crescent.”
“However, a shared path is proposed on the north-western side of Walla Avenue between Watson Road and Middleton Avenue.”
DO YOU WANT MORE GRIFFITH NEWS?
Receive our free newsletter delivered to your inbox every Monday morning. Sign up here.