HURSTVILLE Council was prepared to spend $150,000 on a roundabout to solve traffic problems near the new Woolworths at Mortdale.
The council had already approved the design and allocated the money — it was just a matter of bringing in the construction machinery.
But last Friday the state government stumped up $200,000 to pay for the roundabout, which mayor Con Hindi said was definitely a win for Hurstville ratepayers, who hadn't asked for the money.
The money came via Oatley MP Mark Coure and Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Roads, Ray Williams.
"This is a big win for all road users in Mortdale, Peakhurst and Mortdale Heights who use the new Woolworths," Mr Coure said.
"I have been listening to the community's concerns on this issue and seen the safety issues first-hand many times.
"There are concerns for motorists who find it difficult to navigate between the two lanes on Roberts Avenue, the entry and exit of the plaza and the pedestrians trying to cross the road. Many of my constituents have written to me or called my office to register their concern and to ask for something to be done."
Going by the council's plans, the proposed five-metre diameter "mountable roundabout" will allow for buses and other heavy vehicles.
To channel traffic around the device, four-metre long mountable splitter islands and 1.5-metre wide kerb blisters on both approaches in Roberts Avenue are proposed.
A painted splitter island in the shopping centre's driveway will channel traffic towards the roundabout.
There will be 40 metres of No Stopping restrictions on the northern direction and 30 metres of No Stopping on the southern direction, meaning the loss of nine parking spaces — five from the northern side and four from the south.
All on-street parking outside 47 and 84 Roberts Avenue and a portion of on-street parking outside 86 Roberts Avenue will go.
A council analysis showed that 19-metre delivery trucks would need to mount the splitter islands (centre islands) in Roberts Avenue and the driveway to access the centre.
