WINDSOR BRIDGE PROJECT A ‘DUD’
15 June 2012 - Sleeves are being rolled up in the Battle to Save Thompson Square.
Despite the grave concerns expressed by the National Trust, the Heritage Council of NSW, the Federation of Australian Historical Societies, recognition on the Register of the National Estate and in the Hawkesbury Local Environmental Plan (LEP), which establishes the Thompson Square Conservation Area and other nearby buildings as a heritage area, Roads and Maritime Services Engineers last Wednesday night made clear to attendees at the final Focus Group meeting the Government’s determination to build the proposed concrete monstrosity.
The Local Council objective: to “conserve and enhance buildings, structures and sites of recognised significance which are part of the heritage of the City of Hawkesbury for future generations” is apparently irrelevant.
The Hawkesbury City Council Community Strategic Plan 2010 – 2030 which aspires to the provision of “infrastructure which is sympathetic to the heritage values of the Hawkesbury and enhancing the cultural character of the Hawkesbury’s towns” is being ignored.
The impact of the proposed four-lane intersection, with traffic lights at the heart of the heritage town was brushed aside.
The group was again reminded that this was a like-for-like bridge that was not designed to deliver any particular traffic improvements.
Attendee Megan Wood was furious: "This is a third-rate project. The townships along the Great Western Highway ... bypassed. Moree ...bypassed.* Look at the villages along the Hume Highway, in the Southern highlands ... bypassed."
"NOT Windsor. Windsor gets its historic bridge demolished AND it gets a major arterial road from Parramatta to the Hunter Valley through the middle of our prime tourism and community areas."
Local businessman and Chairman of Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB), Dail Miller agrees. "We have gridlock in this Square every day.
Is the RMS planning a by-pass? Of course not, just a concrete monstrosity, completely out of character with this iconic space.
Windsor will only accept a river crossing solution that works for everyone. This is about building a real future for Windsor.
No arterial road through the middle of the oldest public square in Australia."
"The Government is not interested in our community, it is not interested in our
heritage, and it is certainly not interested in the travelling public who need to get from one side of the river to the other as efficiently as possible. Its current solution fails on every test."
Residents and business people are deeply concerned about what the RMS is doing.
"Look, this is not about us," says resident, Harry Terry "This is about the Government looking for the cheapest way to get big inter-urban vehicles across the Hawkesbury River.
“What’s even worse,” says Harry, “The RMS says the preferred option will provide little traffic improvement. It was not a high priority. The traffic performance of the preferred option is largely related to the Macquarie Street-Bridge Street intersection.
They are telling us the three lane remarking may not happen for ten years after completion of the bridge! "
Local Heritage expert Graham Edds says the only responsible action for the Government is to reject the current plan and develop a solution that separates traffic from a civic area where there are always pedestrians and frequent community events.
Resident, Noel Butler agrees, pointing out the former Labor Government's decision to re-route Windsor Road at near-by Rouse Hill to form the Rouse Hill Estate saying: "The Rouse House and old Rouse Hill Primary School bypass is a wonderful example of what visionary planning can achieve in the public interest."
Thompson Square has been central to the community of Windsor for over two hundred years and today retains the village square character originally intended by Governor Macquarie. It is a popular place for picnickers and tourists, as well as a great venue for the frequent live music and other community events
"This is a cheap solution," says local business man Pete Reynolds, "The RMS say its option, the one they desgned to divert the traffic away from the Square `’performs very poorly’ ... because of the costs that they have designed into it. After that they admit a bypass is the best option for Windsor."
"We say `go back to the drawing board and design a plan that works'... why should Windsor be expected to accept a solution just because it's the cheapest option?"
Moree gets a $65 million bypass and Windsor gets a cheap band-aid.
What has Windsor done wrong? Why don’t we deserve the same solution every other town gets in this situation?
CAWB members also noted this week's State budget announcement of $4million for the project and advice at the meeting the proposed new bridge will not open until 2016.
*RMS Website says:
The Moree town centre bypass is delivering important benefits for road users and the Moree community.
These benefits include:
15 June 2012 - Sleeves are being rolled up in the Battle to Save Thompson Square.
Despite the grave concerns expressed by the National Trust, the Heritage Council of NSW, the Federation of Australian Historical Societies, recognition on the Register of the National Estate and in the Hawkesbury Local Environmental Plan (LEP), which establishes the Thompson Square Conservation Area and other nearby buildings as a heritage area, Roads and Maritime Services Engineers last Wednesday night made clear to attendees at the final Focus Group meeting the Government’s determination to build the proposed concrete monstrosity.
The Local Council objective: to “conserve and enhance buildings, structures and sites of recognised significance which are part of the heritage of the City of Hawkesbury for future generations” is apparently irrelevant.
The Hawkesbury City Council Community Strategic Plan 2010 – 2030 which aspires to the provision of “infrastructure which is sympathetic to the heritage values of the Hawkesbury and enhancing the cultural character of the Hawkesbury’s towns” is being ignored.
The impact of the proposed four-lane intersection, with traffic lights at the heart of the heritage town was brushed aside.
The group was again reminded that this was a like-for-like bridge that was not designed to deliver any particular traffic improvements.
Attendee Megan Wood was furious: "This is a third-rate project. The townships along the Great Western Highway ... bypassed. Moree ...bypassed.* Look at the villages along the Hume Highway, in the Southern highlands ... bypassed."
"NOT Windsor. Windsor gets its historic bridge demolished AND it gets a major arterial road from Parramatta to the Hunter Valley through the middle of our prime tourism and community areas."
Local businessman and Chairman of Community Action for Windsor Bridge (CAWB), Dail Miller agrees. "We have gridlock in this Square every day.
Is the RMS planning a by-pass? Of course not, just a concrete monstrosity, completely out of character with this iconic space.
Windsor will only accept a river crossing solution that works for everyone. This is about building a real future for Windsor.
No arterial road through the middle of the oldest public square in Australia."
"The Government is not interested in our community, it is not interested in our
heritage, and it is certainly not interested in the travelling public who need to get from one side of the river to the other as efficiently as possible. Its current solution fails on every test."
Residents and business people are deeply concerned about what the RMS is doing.
"Look, this is not about us," says resident, Harry Terry "This is about the Government looking for the cheapest way to get big inter-urban vehicles across the Hawkesbury River.
“What’s even worse,” says Harry, “The RMS says the preferred option will provide little traffic improvement. It was not a high priority. The traffic performance of the preferred option is largely related to the Macquarie Street-Bridge Street intersection.
They are telling us the three lane remarking may not happen for ten years after completion of the bridge! "
Local Heritage expert Graham Edds says the only responsible action for the Government is to reject the current plan and develop a solution that separates traffic from a civic area where there are always pedestrians and frequent community events.
Resident, Noel Butler agrees, pointing out the former Labor Government's decision to re-route Windsor Road at near-by Rouse Hill to form the Rouse Hill Estate saying: "The Rouse House and old Rouse Hill Primary School bypass is a wonderful example of what visionary planning can achieve in the public interest."
Thompson Square has been central to the community of Windsor for over two hundred years and today retains the village square character originally intended by Governor Macquarie. It is a popular place for picnickers and tourists, as well as a great venue for the frequent live music and other community events
"This is a cheap solution," says local business man Pete Reynolds, "The RMS say its option, the one they desgned to divert the traffic away from the Square `’performs very poorly’ ... because of the costs that they have designed into it. After that they admit a bypass is the best option for Windsor."
"We say `go back to the drawing board and design a plan that works'... why should Windsor be expected to accept a solution just because it's the cheapest option?"
Moree gets a $65 million bypass and Windsor gets a cheap band-aid.
What has Windsor done wrong? Why don’t we deserve the same solution every other town gets in this situation?
CAWB members also noted this week's State budget announcement of $4million for the project and advice at the meeting the proposed new bridge will not open until 2016.
*RMS Website says:
The Moree town centre bypass is delivering important benefits for road users and the Moree community.
These benefits include:
- Removing heavy vehicle through-traffic from the town centre.
- Improving motorist and pedestrian safety.
- Improving traffic flow in the town centre.
- Improving the amenity of the town centre for shoppers, residents and workers.
- Reducing heavy vehicle noise.
- Providing an alternative crossing of the Mehi River.
