Consultation period extended for Cowaramup traffic study amid resident concerns

Engaged residents in Cowaramup are concerned not enough people have had their say on a crucial strategy to address the town’s traffic woes.

Shire of Augusta-Margaret River this week extended the consultation period for its draft Cowaramup Integrated Transport Strategy with the deadline for public feedback now October 11, to garner more responses.

Shire sustainable development and infrastructure director Nick Logan said the 50 responses collated so far were “vital for the development of long-term transport solutions for Cowaramup”.

“Many great suggestions have been made to date, with strong support being expressed for upgrading the school crossing to pedestrian-operated traffic signals,” he said.

“Other ideas being submitted have been additional and improved signage and line marking at intersections, restricting movements to/from streets along Bussell Highway, reduced speed limits on other streets, formalising the gravel carparks and support for some speed limit reductions.”

Although there was a good showing at the latest public meeting in Cowaramup last fortnight, another gathering was held this week to stir up submissions on the strategy seen as vital to the fast-growing hamlet’s future amenity.

Cowaramup Community Road Safety Group spokeswoman Lisa Bell said more comments were needed to ensure the strategy was funded and included all of the necessary steps to plan for future traffic amid new developments.

She said strategy and consultation forms miss critical actions, including path connections and the consideration of a future bypass.

Ms Bell said her group was concerned the new strategy could be a rehash of planning already undertaken in 2005.

“Many of the actions in the strategy were identified in 2005 as part of the Cowaramup Village Strategy,” Ms Bell said.

“We need co-ordinated action to avoid having to wait another 18 years for another strategy to (do) the same bloody thing.”