The subject was raised again, at council’s history-making first elected Federation Council monthly meeting in Urana on April 16, 2019 following the amalgamation in May 2016 of Urana and Corowa Shires. Some local residents attended the meeting to hear council’s latest comments.
Deputy Mayor Shaun Whitechurch urged council to take action. “We’re dealing with people and their town,” he said. “I can see the frustration of townspeople.”
Both the Mayor Pat Bourke and General Manager Adrian Butler agreed the matter needs follow up. Council resolved that its new director engineering services Steve Carmichael prepare a report on the subject for council.
The decision relating to the Stephen Street restrictions was made by the former Urana Shire Council in December 2015.
Stephen Street is not B-Double approved and is classified as a Local Road, not a Regional Road like the approved route. Notwithstanding this, Stephen Street was widely used prior to this decision by most heavy vehicles as an alternative to William and Stephen Streets.
Urana resident Michael Robson addressed council’s January 2018 meeting, presenting a petition containing 180 signatures.
He told The Free Press the safety reasons he advised council’s January 2018 meeting still apply: “Closing Stephen Street effectively redirects all heavy vehicles through Urana township past a primary school, hospital, doctor’s surgery, family day care, aged care and at least 30 houses.”