Latest news with #AustralianLocalGovernmentConference
Mercury
2 days ago
- Business
- Mercury
‘Embarrassing' Sydney roundabout leaves drivers in a mess
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Residents in Sydney's southwest are fuming over a strange new diamond-shaped roundabout that has left drivers in a mess. The oddly-shaped intersection at Austral's 28th Avenue has been branded 'embarrassing' by Liverpool City Councillor Peter Ristevski, who admitted he's just as baffled as the public. 'My inbox last night was bombarded with over 300 responses asking, 'what is going on? You guys can't even build a roundabout',' he told Channel Nine's Today. 'They've pretty much lost confidence in the council, which is very concerning at the moment.' Footage captured by Yahoo News Australia on Friday shows a steady stream of motorists ignoring the layout altogether and simply driving straight through the roundabout — including a large truck and several SUVs. There are no visible signs explaining how to navigate it, and residents say it's dangerous. 'It's f**king sh*t,' a local man told Yahoo. 'I can't even turn onto my street because of the shape of the roundabout.' He added that turning through the intersection without hitting a waiting car or nearby pole is nearly impossible. 'Because it's shaped like that, by the time I do swing it back around, I would hit those cars waiting there or the pole, so it makes it dangerous.' Liverpool City Council CEO Jason Breton announced in a video posted to the council's LinkedIn page the roundabout would be dismantled this weekend. 'We'll put the road surface back to its original position,' Mr Breton said. 'And then we'll work with the state and federal governments about the state road and how we can improve it.' Despite what appears to be ample space for a standard circular roundabout, the diamond design was reportedly chosen due to the angled layout of the intersecting street. The controversial roundabout is part of a series of upgrades on Fifteenth Avenue, which will eventually connect to the new Western Sydney Airport. Councillor Ristevski blamed external contractors and said he didn't know the cost of the diamond-shaped layout. 'It's quite embarrassing,' he admitted. 'I'm in Canberra for the Australian Local Government Conference, where I've had every single councillor here in Australia rip into me about this roundabout.' Originally published as 'Embarrassing' Sydney roundabout leaves drivers in a mess
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Sky News AU
‘It's not even round': Today show host labels new western Sydney roundabout ‘Australia's worst' as councillor seeks investigation
A 'shocking' western Sydney roundabout has been dubbed 'Australia's worst roundabout' by a Today show host after it was revealed the new intersection is shaped like a diamond. The installation was part of a bid to improve traffic congestion across Austral, with a Liverpool Council petition receiving more than 2000 signatures calling for urgent upgrades, but footage suggests conditions have worsened in the area. The video, released by the Today show, shows multiple drivers struggling to navigate the oddly shaped roundabout, which connects Fifteenth Avenue and Twenty Eighth Avenue. One car can be seen doing a three-point turn, while another cuts across the intersection, narrowly avoiding colliding with a third car. Today show host Karl Stefanovic dubbed it 'Australia's worst roundabout.' The intersection has been further criticised by councillors, Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun declaring council will be 'putting the round back into roundabout.' 'The staff responsible have made some design changes that they intend on implementing as soon as possible,' he said. 'No one applied common sense.' Appearing on the Today show as he attends the Australian Local Government Conference in Canberra, councillor Peter Ristevski said he has had 'every single councillor that's here in Australia rip into me about our roundabout." 'It's quite embarrassing,' he said. 'I've asked for an investigation into this, and in particular what it's going to cost us to rectify this.' 'My inbox last night was bombarded with over 200 to 300 responses saying, 'what is going on, you guys can't even build a roundabout?.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns pledged $1 billlion in January to upgrade Fifteenth Avenue. It's understood no accidents have occurred at the roundabout, despite its dangerous appearance. Frustrated locals have taken to social media to express their disappointment. 'You would think that someone should have stopped for a second and thought 'that's a stupid roundabout, it's not even round',' one said. 'I can tell you with firsthand experience, it's shocking. Most people struggle with a normal roundabout, this just melts people's brains as they approach it,' said another.
