Barragga Bay resident Phil Coates on the Tathra-Bermagui Road south of Cuttagee bridge and beach. There is no footpath or much of a verge, which residents say creates a dangerous setting, especially for pedestrians. Photo: Marion Williams.
For decades, Cuttagee residents have been expressing their concern about the dangers their main thoroughfare poses, particularly to pedestrians.
Cuttagee’s beach and lake are popular with locals, visitors, fishers, surfers, rowers and, above all, families.
The Tathra-Bermagui Road is narrow and during peak season, parked cars line either side of it.
There is no footpath and very little verge. To access the beach, pedestrians must walk on the road, which has an 80 km/h speed limit. The only reason passing traffic slows is the 133-year-old, single-lane Cuttagee Bridge.
The number of vehicles using the road is growing as more people discover the scenic area and travel along the iconic tourist road that crosses five single-lane bridges between Wallaga Lake and Tathra.
Also contributing to a higher traffic volume in their vicinity is nearby music venue Four Winds moving from a major Easter festival to a year-round program.
Barragga Bay resident Phil Coates has been writing letters and speaking with Bega Valley Shire Council and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) about the issue for 15 years.
At a recent community forum to discuss design options for Cuttagee Bridge, Mr Coates said there was a disconnect between the council and TfNSW. Councillor David Porter, who attended the forum, said he agreed.
Wendy Tucker’s granddaughter Sadie is the second generation of Cuttagee babies to play by the lake. Photo: Supplied.
“There are 100 people living here, 150 cars excluding visitors’ cars, and the paddock across the road has hundreds of kangaroos, so we want to slow people down through Barragga Bay,” Mr Coates said.
Mr Coates and his wife are trained first responders of 30 years standing.
“Risk mitigation and accident prevention are always uppermost in our minds, and we do see a number of near misses with vehicles and pedestrians.”
In February, he lodged a submission about the issue with TfNSW’s Draft South East and Tablelands Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan.
Cuttagee resident Wendy Tucker has lived in the area since 1970, “with a lot of comings and goings”. She said people had been concerned for at least 30 years and the cooperative where she lives had written letters about it twice.
Ms Tucker said families came to spend the whole day at Cuttagee, with big floaties, boards, eskies, baskets and pop-up tents in tow.
“They are scurrying across the road, completely loaded and with poor vision because of their load,” Ms Tucker said. “During summer and school holidays, there are at least 20 cars parked on either side of the road and young children scurrying in and out behind cars.”
She is incredulous that in 50 years there has not been a fatality or serious accident, particularly given that children jump off the bridge.
“The fact no-one has been hit there is good luck. It certainly isn’t good management,” Ms Tucker said.
Phil Coates and his dog Dr Watson at the edge of a creek where a boardwalk could be installed to give pedestrians safe access to the beach. Photo: Marion Williams.
Mr Coates wants the speed limit reduced to 60 km/h and a 10-metre boardwalk installed over a creek to give pedestrians safe access to the beach.
Ms Tucker doubts the effectiveness of speed limit signs.
“The bridge has a 10 km sign, and I have never seen anyone do that,” she said. “We heard at the community forum that the average speed over the bridge was 56 km, so people aren’t taking any notice of signs.”
She said work was underway to make a slightly larger verge for the school bus, “but every day there are fishers’ four-wheel drives parked there, so we still walk the children across the road in the morning. Vehicles come down the Cuttagee hill and pick up speed.”
Ms Tucker suggested erecting signs a distance from the bridge warning drivers that children are on the road “possibly carrying floaties on their head”.
She and Mr Coates agree that Cuttagee Bridge plays a valuable traffic-calming role and are concerned it may make way for a two-lane replacement.
“Because Cuttagee Bridge is single-lane and people stop, it is doing us a favour,” Mr Coates said. “If it goes to two-lane, it isn’t clear what the speed limit would be.”
Ms Tucker said cars didn’t slow down until they reached the bridge.
“If there is a two-lane bridge, it is just going to encourage people to speed along there,” she said.
Mr Coates said travellers coming through the area were distracted by the countryside, expansive ocean view, breaking surf, kangaroos, whale watchers, fishers and surfers.
“There is a lot to take in,” he said. “It is part of a tourist drive. However, pedestrians should always feel assured of their own safety and be given priority over moving traffic.”
