mmg.com.au

Benalla Rural City will remove the much-discussed road sign outside Woolworths’ Smythe St exit after it was deemed to have been confusing to drivers.

The sign will instead be replaced with a standard ‘left turn only’ sign, in an attempt to prevent drivers from undertaking a skewed movement to drive from the Woolworths exit to the opposite McDonald’s entrance. The issue was brought before council again at the Planning and Development Committee meeting on February 20, after public feedback with Benalla Police indicated the sign was causing confusion to drivers. Four options were presented by development and environment general manager Veronica Shilling, including removal of the sign, adding turning arrows on the pavement, investigating the potential to close the right-turn lane and infill the gap in the traffic island, or make no changes.

However, Councillor Ross Jenkins moved a new motion, proposing that the current sign be removed and that council begins the process of putting in a ‘left turn only’ sign of standard design to address safety concerns.

Cr Jenkins’s motion was well-received by council, and provided the ‘‘simple solution’’ that Cr Suzy Martin said they should be looking for.

‘‘I think it’s brilliant,’’ Cr Martin said.

‘‘I just wish I’d thought of it.’’

While Cr Jenkins’ motion had overwhelming support from his fellow councillors, Cr Ellen Crocker did not vote to carry the motion after her suggestion to investigate the potential of putting a road island in the McDonald’s driveway did not gain support from council.

Ms Shilling said as the McDonald’s property was private land it was an option council would be hesitant to explore, particularly given the number of parties that would need to be involved.

The Ensign understands that an independent proposal for a road island in the McDonald’s driveway, designed by local developer Willie Van Wersch, has been discussed with, and been well received by, the McDonald’s franchisee.