Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill is seeking a tenfold increase in fines for oversized vehicles breaching weight and length limits on Old Bathurst Road, Blaxland, following the discovery of another spillage incident on the roadway.
Concrete was discovered spilled on the roadway on Monday, July 29, causing slippery unsafe conditions and necessitating considerable clean-up.
The steep and winding road is an alternative route to the A44, M4 and A32 highways through Emu Plains, Glenbrook and Blaxland to travel between Sydney’s west and central New South Wales.
Flashing signage has previously been in place to warn truck drivers not to use the road, however this was removed by Penrith City Council.
Old Bathurst Road has a vehicular weight limit of 3.5 tonnes and a vehicular length limit of 7.5 metres. Any vehicle found breaching these limits currently faces a $227 fine.
Mayor Greenhill cited a massively increased fine in nearby Galston Gorge as a better deterrent for drivers than the current fine imposed in Blaxland.
“If you drive an overweight or oversized vehicle in Galston Gorge you face a significantly higher fine of $2818,” Greenhill says.
“This has been an ongoing situation for many years and obviously the current fine is not acting as a deterrent for drivers who don’t mind flaunting the rules on a very steep and winding road.
“Council has long-standing concerns about the movement of heavy vehicles through the Blue Mountains. I said five years ago the situation on Old Bathurst Road is a fatality waiting to happen.”
Blue Mountains City Council is now seeking a meeting with Penrith City Council, Transport for NSW and NSW Police for further review into ensuring oversized vehicles remain off Old Bathurst Road.
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