Presentation by Mr Peter Hickman to Eurobodalla Council 9 April 2019 - Resheeting at Maloney’s Beach
Maloney’s Beach is quiet residential area at the end of Northcove Road, Long Beach. About 50% of the houses are occupied so that there are about 240 people there. Demographic studies indicate there is double the number of people in the 65+ group than is the case nationally. There is very little traffic, fewer traffic movements than there are residents on a daily basis, and no footpaths. Many of the nature strips are not maintained and the grass can be long and weedy. Many of the retired people do their 10,000 steps through the streets of the suburb.
On the first few days in April, a contractor resheeted most of the roads in the suburb except for the main ones. There was no consultation regarding the size of the aggregate to be used.
The result is that people, dogs and our favourite kangaroos will not go on the roads because of the likelihood of tripping or cutting feet or paws, there are no footpaths. Some bicycles cannot use the roads now. Infants cannot learn to ride bicycles; in case they fall off and get serious cuts. One could say that the pavements function was 10% road and 90% recreation space.
Staff advised “The bitumen says fairly active for around 12 months. Over this time the aggregate embedment will increase with the local traffic further rolling the aggregate into the bitumen. The seal surface roughness should improve, although it will never be similar roughness to the 7mm aggregate seal.” The catch is that at Maloney’s, on these streets and places, there is very, very, little traffic. The surface roughness will likely stay until the next resheeting. The aggregate was, in the end, 14mm, which went over the previous smooth surface. The size of the new aggregate was more than 8 times the size of the previous. A very chunky, lumpy and sharp outcome. A 14mm stone will not sink into 3mm of bitumen by more than 3mm, leaving a sharp 11mm point.
Staff further advised that the aggregate was sourced specifically for the Council reseal program. The aggregate is from the same quarry and of same size as several recently resealed Council urban roads in Narooma, Tuross and Moruya. Well, the catches are that Narooma, Tuross and Moruya have much more vehicular traffic than Maloneys. We residents are older, don’t have as many traffic movements, are concerned about our kangaroo’s wellbeing, walk our dogs for exercise, don’t have footpaths. Not all suburbs and environments are the same.
My analysis is;
We paid for the infrastructure maintenance. We are the customers.
We were not asked for what we wanted as an outcome of the maintenance.
The outcome is unsatisfactory and does not suit. It is inappropriate and it is dangerous. It is not what we wanted.
The outcome will be unsuitable for many years.
This outcome is a result of insufficient consultation.
If I went to a shop and asked for a resheet, and I got this, I would want my money back or an outcome I asked for.
Above: Peter Hickman and members of Maloneys Beach presented to the Eurobodalla Council meeting 9th April 2019
