News
6 November, 2026
Council response to safety concerns ‘farcical’
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s response to safety concerns relating to a new childcare centre on Eridge Park Road has been described as a ‘farce of the highest order’ by residents.
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s response to safety concerns relating to a new childcare centre on Eridge Park Road has been described as a ‘farce of the highest order’ by residents.
Council’s Local Traffic Forum has decided to review traffic safety risks relating to the controversial development 12 months after it was approved by the Wingecarribee Local Planning Panel (LPP) – but residents have been given no indication of what the review will involve or how long it will take.
They say it was “galling” to be shut out of the forum’s October 28 meeting when the matter was being discussed.
Residents have been told that costly traffic changes may be required to support the development, including a new right-hand turn for west-bound traffic on Eridge Park Road entering the childcare centre.
However, the developer is unlikely to foot the bill given the childcare centre has already been approved and residents have also been told that council is unlikely to pay.
A recent traffic study undertaken by McLaren Traffic Engineering and Road Safety Consultants warned a “clear and extreme risk to life which will result from the operation of the childcare centre”.
McLaren also found that by forgoing its opportunity to impose traffic mitigation works and costs on the childcare centre applicant, “council has failed in its duty to protect its constituents.”
Resident Aimee Preece described the process as ‘farcical’ with potentially tragic outcomes.
“By suddenly announcing a look into traffic safety issues, council is allegedly acknowledging that such issues weren’t addressed during the assessment process,” Mrs Preece said.
“The credibility of the assessment process is now in freefall.
“There’s hasty talk of changing Eridge Park Road to suit the development, but how and when is anyone’s guess.
“You don’t approve a project as significant as this, then play piecemeal catch-ups on matters involving risks to human life.
“The only clear theme is it would be hard to force such costs on the developer a year after the centre was approved.
“It seems moves are underway to shut the gate after the horse has bolted - and only after residents have put spotlights on the situation, notwithstanding that we’ve been warning of the risks from day one.”
Resident Daniel Udall said opponents had been told by council staff that the childcare centre was no longer viewed as pedestrian-friendly because of safety risks – despite the development application talking up pedestrian access.
“There’s no public footpath outside the centre and everyone knows that trying to access the site from the footpath on the other side of Eridge Park Road will be a life and death gamble,” Mr Udall said.
“It’s one thing to opine that parents and kids shouldn’t access the site by foot, but what happens if someone is killed or injured trying to do just that?
“Are we inviting the public to play Russian roulette with their lives?”
Mr Udall described the section of Eridge Park Road at the childcare entrance as a narrow, 70kph no-stopping passage with “zero room for driver error”.
“Our own traffic experts have warned of risks of drivers not seeing people crossing the road and pedestrians not seeing moving vehicles.”
He said the experts had concluded that the childcare entrance failed Austroads safe site distance requirements.
Resident Charles Barret accused council of responding to safety issues “on the run”.
“We need childcare centres, but this is the last place you’d put one,” Mr Barrett said.
“The State Government specifies that childcare centres should be located in safe and centralised streets with pedestrian infrastructure and connectivity with other community assets such as public transport.
“How on Earth does this fringe site on a dangerous road stand to reason?” he asked.
Residents say they have lost faith in council’s ability to deal with the issue and have called on the State Government to intervene.
They have enlisted the support of Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan, who has inspected the site and has warned it is “an accident waiting to happen”.
They are considering a public round-table forum where the developer, residents, and key decision-makers can constructively examine the assessment process and the risks, to gain clarity on what will happen moving forward.
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