MIDCOAST Council is aware that gravel has been dumped at the Our Girls Memorial site south of Bulahdelah, and has arranged for contractors to remove it as soon as possible.

This advice comes after local residents contacted News Of The Area, concerned that the large stockpiles of road materials are disrespectful at a memorial site.

Speaking with News Of The Area, a MidCoast Council spokesperson said sealing contractors had been given approval to use the location “as a short term, temporary stockpile site”.

“This was under the condition that the area would be cleaned up when works were completed,” the spokesperson said. “Unfortunately, due to wet weather delays, this process has dragged on.”

Council said as the work is now completed, they have approached the contractor to remove the remaining materials.

The area is also marked as a U-turn bay, but the stockpiles mean that large vehicles can no longer use it for this purpose.

MidCoast Council said they are currently reassessing the need for a U-turn bay at this location.

“We believe this would have been placed when the section of road was the Pacific Highway,” the spokesperson said.

“We have now requested that our traffic engineer review this signage with a view to potentially having it removed.”

Council said the “process is likely to involve discussions with the traffic committee before a decision is made to retain or remove it”.

The Our Girls Memorial was erected in memory of Barbara Cheadle and her two granddaughters, who were tragically killed in a road accident in 2004.

 

By Daniel SAHYOUN