Socialist Alliance members here are backing the North Lismore Progress Association’s campaign against Lismore Council plans to divert a big slice of the traffic between the neighbouring towns of Bangalow and Casino through North Lismore.
Lismore Council is looking at ways to reduce traffic congestion in the CBD and on the main Ballina Street bridge — nothing wrong with that. The problem is that their favoured option is to add another bridge across the Wilson River and divert the traffic from Bangalow Road down Pitt Lane, between the CBD and Richmond River High School, and then down Bridge Street. Not only would this guarantee heavy pedestrian traffic (students walking to school) across what will be a major vehicle thoroughfare, but the “bypass” would divert the same heavy traffic through the middle of North Lismore, across a historic wooden bridge and through South Lismore.
And why this route? Because it’s cheaper than widening the Ballina Street bridge — something that planners concede will have to be done eventually. So, Council’s plan to delay the inevitable will make the trip to school a lot more dangerous and destroy the relatively peaceful ambience of North Lismore.
Petitions, street stalls and doorknocking, possibly leading to a rally, will be used to mobilise residents against the short-sighted plan. North Lismore roads are already suffering from the heavy traffic — as evidenced by the half-road collapse in Bridge St, which is threatening two rare fragrant myrtle trees.
Socialist Alliance will help build this campaign and use the issue to highlight the need for planning that incorporates public transport options, including more passenger rail and bus services and sending more road freight by rail instead. And how about bicycle paths and footbridges to take people into town rather than presuming you need a car?
Fragrant myrtles — not smelly cars! Another world is possible!