Council has identified issues with the limited space between the Boothenba Road turn-off and the entrance to the Dubbo Regional Livestock Markets. There is a level railing crossing on a slope which can’t sufficiently accommodate the ever-increasing longer vehicles using the DRLM.

 To fix the concern, council has submitted an expression of interest to the NSW government for funding.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

The project would cost between $5 and $6 million. If council was successful in its grant from the Growing Local Economies Fund it would be required to chip in between $1 and $1.2 million.

Councillor Greg Mohr said he was optimistic the NSW government would see the value of providing the funding, which would allow for the realignment of the road or possible signalling improvements.

“The current intersection no longer meeting the needs of the trucks going to and from the saleyards and I am concerned there is a risk to the welfare of people and livestock in the current circumstances,” Cr Mohr said.

He said it was a reasonably small price to pay to prevent more accidents on the road.

“At the moment there is a risk to motorist safety, animal welfare and also the possible loss of productivity if there is any incident at the intersection or along that road,” Cr Mohr said.

“Long vehicles overhang the railway line when leaving the saleyards and turning onto Boothenba Road, and there have been serious accidents in the past, including a collision between a train and a truck.

“It has happened before and if we don’t fix it, it will happen again.”

The stop/start from the heavy vehicles on the slope is also hard on heavy vehicles and a concern for animal welfare with stock standing in trucks.

Council has already submitted an expression of interest to the NSW government for the project. If accepted, a business case will be accepted.