I am told traffic was banked up back to the Tuross turn-off from that ridiculous set of traffic lights at Queen Street, in Moruya. 

The Moruya town planners included two cross streets (Queen and Church streets) and they got neither of them to line up.

That is just plain dumb. 

As a result, it plays havoc with the through traffic as it will forever more until something sensible is done.

Does the Eurobodalla Shire Council still have a traffic management committee? 

Is it not part of the police highway patrol’s duty to move the traffic safely and smoothly? 

How hard is it to tun off the traffic lights and put an officer on point duty to alleviate the congestion? 

A one-way system around Moruya was first suggested about 20 years ago, with southbound traffic turning off the bridge to go along Shore and Ford Streets.

It was suggested a properly-thought-out system would make the traffic lights redundant.

Some would be needed for a pedestrian crossing but would not hold up traffic nearly as much and would only function when being used).  

People driving along Ford Street would be able to see parking space, and possibly stop, rather than just driving to the next town.

The council’s reaction then was largely that heavy transport would not have enough room to turn into Shore Street, because of the pedestrian refuge.

It was pointed out that Shore Street would be one-way, providing plenty of room. Moruya’s traffic problems would be easily fixed.

Another old chestnut is the occasional call for William Street to be improved to provide an alternate way into Moruya CBD for South Head and Congo residents, without the need to negotiate the highway.

Such a move could have eliminated the cost of a roundabout, though that would have eliminated the interesting experience of noting how few people know the simple rules on roundabouts and that, the larger the vehicle, the more likely it is they don’t have a clue.

One reason put forward years ago for Eurobodalla Shire Council not to do anything about these proposals was that Ford, Shore and William Streets were council, not State Government thoroughfares.

One would hope the State Government would look kindly at any proposal that improves traffic flow, and takes some wear and tear of the highway.

Perhaps the questions has not been asked?

The most recent Eurobodalla holiday guide is a beautifully illustrated booklet designed by council staff to promote tourism in our region. Its guidelines for “a quintessential family holiday” include surfing, cycling, bushwalking, fishing and boating in a glorious seaside/bushland environment.

It saddens me that also listed among the yearly events is HuntFest, held every June on crown land in Narooma. Such an event is at odds with the life-affirming ethos of the shire and the welfare of its citizens.

While this event may suit the hunters’ lobby from outside the shire it has never been supported by the majority of residents or holiday visitors. Many of them do not even know about it.

If you do not want this area to become a mecca for hunters and a public outlet for guns, contact the council before our enviable reputation as the “unspoilt south coast NSW” is “shot”.