The councillor announced yesterday he has booked a meeting with the Wagga Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) regional manager in Wagga on May 6 to discuss what can be done to increase the safety of the bends that run through Bendick Murrell.

He also has hopes to approach NSW Minister for Roads Duncan Gay about the issue at the next CENTROC meeting – where up to 14 councils in central NSW gather on a four-monthly basis – at Sydney Parliament House at the end of May.

“I want to reassure the community, and I want to be reassured as well, that as much as possible is getting done to address the Bendick Bends,” Cr Stuart Freudenstein said.

He said he wanted short term measures put in place “fairly quickly” while they sought for something more long term and permanent.

Cr Freudenstein’s - and the town’s - concerns about the condition of the bends heightened when between March 26 and April 5 two B double trucks jack-knifed, one killing a motorcyclist, and a car rolled on the bends.

Young Shire Council’s April monthly meeting last Wednesday, held this time in Bendick Murrell, couldn’t have been more timely.

As expected, the issue of the bends arose in discussions not once, not twice, but three times.

Two Bendick Murrell residents used the meeting as their opportunity to voice their concerns about the bends.

First to speak in the public forum segment was Jim Williams whose opening line when talking about the bends began with “now let’s talk about this corner”.

The Bendick resident told his councillors he’s been sending letters to council regarding the corner for about 10 years.

He recollected there had been more than 10 deaths occurring on the bends and numerous trucks “going off” the road.

“It desperately needs something done to it,” Jim said.

“After I wrote to council, those arrow signs were put up and that helped the situation. But there have been four accidents on that corner [in recent weeks].”

He said as a member of the local rural fire brigade and attending the accident scenes, “believe me it’s not a pretty sight at times”.

“I know it’s hard to get money from the government and RMS but it needs to be done… they’re my kids, your kids.”

Another Bendick Murrell resident Val Weir also raised her concerns about the bends at the meeting.

Cr John Walker suggested during discussions that realigning the road was the best option.

The mayor said yesterday that since last week’s meeting council’s operations director Dirk Wymer has been liaising with RMS and reviewing the bends’s accident history in light of the recent string of accidents.

“I was told after Wednesday’s meeting there have also been more minor accidents that don’t get reported,” Cr Freudenstein said.

“So the history of the bends are more substantial than what’s recorded.”

The mayor plans to take Mr Wymer and council’s general manager with him when he meets with the RMS in Wagga next month.

“I’m hoping by that day the regional manager will have some options that will help there, like a low speed zone in that area, warning signage or maybe a speed camera,” Cr Freudenstein said.

As for the roads minister, the mayor said he hopes to have the opportunity to speak with him.

“I just want five minutes,” he said. 

“Straightening the road would cost millions – rebuilding the highway and bridges... It’s not impossible. It might stretch the friendship… but there’s no harm in asking. Our safety is paramount.

“We certainly got to speak to the roads minister last year.”