With the issue of rock-throwing back in the spotlight, the big question is what is being done to stop it.
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Truck drivers are fearful of what will happen if this continues and are calling on Roads and Maritime Services(RMS), Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), Moree Plains Shire Council, and local police, to do something before someone is killed.
One of the big issues is the fence between the bypass and railway line is regularly being cut, allowing direct access from the rocks on the railway tracks to the road.
Council told Leeton-based truck driver, Neil Rowe, that as soon as they repair a hole in the fence, it is cut again within 24 hours. “As soon as the fence gets cut, rocks get thrown,” Mr Rowe said.
The Moree Champion was unable to contact council about the issue before we went to print, however council responded to a post on their Facebook page saying they have met with RMS, ARTC and police to work on ways to combat it.
According to the post, police are stepping up patrols of the area and the RMS is funding CCTV and improved lighting. The ARTC is attempting to reduce the “missiles in the corridor” and working to secure the fencing.
Council’s community safety committee is also working on the issue.
“A program of school information has been developed with ARTC and our road safety officer and we have started discussions with community leaders,” the council statement said.
“We are keen to record contact details of people who have been affected, and where we have this, we are contacting them by phone to get full details. The problem has many causes, and we are working on short, medium and longer term solutions to this issue.”
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