It’s been known for years, since the mid-1990s at least, traffic congestion, which includes pedestrians, would compound into the future. 

A range of ideas were floated at different times. Council employed consultants to provide their ideas on solving the expected compounding problems. Traffic lights were installed at various locations to regulate vehicle traffic flows, but the problem kept escalating.

A major contributor to the escalating problem is the Village Centre shopping complex, formerly known as Stocklands, built by the Stevens Group. In early 2013 council is going to conduct meetings with “stakeholders” to talk about the traffic, and pedestrian, chaos.

Just remember that all residents and ratepayers are “stakeholders”, so make sure if you are concerned about the traffic chaos - not just at Christmas but most of the time these days - make sure you attend the stakeholder meetings and have a say on the right solutions to rectify the mess.

There should be no cheap bandaid solutions but a long-term solution this time. 

Allan Brown

Batemans Bay