Johns River

You are invited to participate in a live online community forum on the Pacific Highway upgrade.

Date: 29 November 2011

Time: 7.00pm

Want to have a say?  Register Here!

View the discussion and participate in a live online question and answer session with a panel of Roads and Maritime Services (formerly Roads and Traffic Authority) staff on issues relating to the Pacific Highway upgrade.

Click here to register for the Pacific Highway WebcastModerated by Richie Williamson, Clarence Valley Council Mayor and Pacific Highway Task Force Presdident

Panel members include:

Bob Higgins - General Manager for the Pacific Highway
Wesley Stevenson - Program and Strategy Manager for the Pacific Highway
Scott Lawrence - Environmental Services Manager for the Pacific Highway
Steve Summerell - Technical Projects Development Manager for the Pacific Highway
David Shepard - Community representative

Local Independent MP, Mr. Peter Besseling, asked the Minister for Roads about line marking of our main village road (Johns River Road) now that the bypass is operational.

The question by Mr. Besseling was asked on 10 June 2010 (session 54-1) and published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 209.  The answer from the Hon. David Borger, Minister for Roads, was received on 13 July 2010 and printed in Questions & Answers Paper No. 214.

Mr Peter Besseling to the Minister for Roads, and Minister for Western Sydney—

Will the RTA provide relevant line-marking and re-sealing of sections of the south-bound lanes of the old Pacific Highway through Johns River as the existing road is no longer appropriately marked since the Johns River Bypass opened?

Answer—

I am advised some adjustments will be made to the directional line marking of the old Pacific Highway at Johns River as part of finishing works for the Coopernook to Herons Creek upgrade.

I understand that the line marking adjustments on the old highway could not be completed until after traffic was switched onto the new bypass, which opened to traffic on 28 May 2010.

I am further advised that rainfall since the opening has delayed the completion of the work. Temporary directional markings and traffic guidance remain in place until the work is completed.

 

JRCPA President David Shepard spoke on ABC Mid North Coast Radio this morning with Katya Quigley, on bypassed villages and the condition of village roads. Kempsey Shire GM David Rawlings was also interviewed on bypassed towns and business viability.

From the interview about road conditions, Mr. Shepard stated:

"One of the most important considerations in bypassed towns is the road condition. Our local residents consistently list roads and road conditions in the two main surveys we've done over the last 4 years.

"On this last road duplication project, the bypassed communities of Kew, Johns River and Moorland actually still have to bear the load of Pacific Highway traffic, exiting and entering, coming through our villages.

"We all have traffic barrelling through our towns only to cross back over the highway before leaving the bypasses.

"Yet the RTA has refused to properly classify these main roads as 'regional roads' so our Councils can get the vital ongoing maintenance funding which they desperately need.

"It's a classic example of cost-shifting Katya as David Rawlings the Kempsey GM you just interviewed would know – the outgoing State government has dumped 15 kilometres of roads in our laps – with no ongoing funding.

And again – about 5km of these local roads are STILL being used as part of the Pacific Highway operation.

"The RTA is hardly being fair to the bypassed communities and certainly not fair to the Councils either. The same state government also has rejected Council requests to raise funding on their own through special rate rises to pay for this new infrastructure on their books.

"Our local Independent Member in State Parliament, Peter Besseling has had meetings with Council and the RTA in Sydney in September to help get the much-needed support from the RTA.

"It will be very interesting for us to see what the new Roads Minister, the Hon. Duncan Gay will do to fix this oversight. We've had big promises for funding our roads from Mr. O'Farrell and we really hope this translates to actual dollars, instead of yet more cost-shifting. We can only assume a new state coalition government will be doing things differently."

This Can’t Wait! You will be seeing this sign for the rest of your life in Johns River, so why not have YOUR say on how it looks?

A Promise Kept The NSW Minister for Roads, the Hon. David Borger, MP, opened the 10.2km segment including the Johns River Bypass on 28 May of this year. Whilst here, the Minister spoke with Progress Association representatives about how the bypass might affect the village, and what the community would like to see from the State Government and RTA to help our village post-bypass. At that time, the Minister spoke about providing some distinctive and creative signage for each of the bypassed communities along the new highway corridor. And now we have the opportunity to make sure this great idea is realised in the best possible way.

Now is Our Chance! The RTA has kindly agreed to allow villagers to use the official ENTRY FORM (on the right) to submit your favourite image and some text about the image. Please just briefly state there why you think your image represents what Johns River means to you. Please read through also the official guidelines for the contest below, and be sure your entries are in by Monday, 13 December 2010. AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU

Pacific Highway location marker competition for Johns River

When will the signs be built?
Early in 2011.
 

When are submissions due?
Entries close 5pm, 13 December 2010
Late entries will not be accepted.
 

How are submissions to be submitted?

Submit your entry by completing the entry form and sending it, along with your image to: RTA Pacific Highway Office, 21 Prince Street, Grafton, NSW, 2460. Or email to:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What info should I provide?
All entries must included the proposed image or idea, the individual (s) name and contact details proposing the image or idea and if you like a statement (no longer than 50 words) on the rationale for the proposed image or idea. You should include
a brief description of your connection to the local area.

What Image Quality is required?

 Yes, your image must eventually be of a high resolution – 3MB or more. If you email a low resolution make sure you note that the original artwork is available.  Contact David on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need help with your images.