A NUMBER of trees planted by Shoalhaven City Council on the edge of Bolong Road to spruce up the coastal entrance to Bomaderry last July will be removed because they don’t meet Austroads standards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Council planted almost 90 brush box, evergreen ash, jacaranda and eucalyptus wildfire trees on either side of the roadway last year as part of the program.
A number of the trees fall in the 100km/h zone just north of the Manildra complex and don’t meet Austroads standards, on which council is basing its clearing works on Gerroa Road.
A report before council’s Policy and Resources Committee on January 21 about the delivery of the vegetation clearing stated: “In accordance with Austroads [standards] the minimum width of the clear zone is required to be 9m, measured from the edge of the road, for a 100km/h speed zone rural road carrying more than 6000 vehicles per day. This is the area adjacent to a road that is to be free from non-frangible hazards [ie trees].”
Following inquiries by the Register on Monday about the Bolong Road location where a number of trees are outside those guidelines, council announced it would remove them.
“A number of immature trees and shrubs located within the 100km/h zone will be removed by council and relocated to a different area within the city,” a council spokesperson said.
“After liaising with Manildra on amenity improvements in the area, council planted approximately 90 trees along Bolong Road, as part of a Town Entrance Improvement program in July to further enhance the Bolong Road entrance into Bomaderry.
“In light of the RMS decision to reduce the speed zone from 100km/h to 60km/h, and considering the changed road environment, a setback design for the trees was adopted considering the traffic volume and prevalent speed environment.
“A number of shrubs and immature trees were planted within close proximity of the road along the 100km/h section of Bolong Road.
“A combination of water, electricity and gas lines running parallel to the road had also led to the planting of trees in this location.
“They will be removed and relocated to a different area within the city.
“A number of processes are currently being implemented across council as part of the organisation’s transformation project to ensure improved co-ordination on projects.”
Council maintains the vegetation clearing along the edge of Gerroa Road, with federal Black Spot funding to improve road safety in the area, is in accordance with Austroads standards.
