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Rural Road Safety Month – NSW Country Roads

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Driving across Wentworth Shire comes with unique risks, and knowing a road like the back of your hand doesn’t make anyone immune to danger.
August is Rural Road Safety Month, and Week 1 focuses on NSW Country Roads. Did you know that 83% of all fatal crashes on NSW country roads involve local residents? That’s 4 out of 5 fatal crashes involving country locals. It’s easy to feel safe on familiar stretches, but overconfidence behind the wheel can cost lives.
Speeding isn’t just about driving well over the posted limit—it’s also about driving too fast for local conditions like dirt, gravel, rain, or glare. Lowering speed gives drivers crucial seconds to react to unexpected hazards around the bend, whether it’s livestock, potholes, or farm machinery.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, so drivers are urged to check their speed this week and help ensure everyone gets home safely.
For more information and resources, visit the NSW Government’s Centre for Road Safety website: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety

Shared Path Construction – Cadell Street, Wentworth

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SHARED PATH CONSTRUCTION – CADELL STREET, WENTWORTH
Dates: Monday 17 August – Sunday 6 November
Location: Cadell Street, Wentworth

Construction will commence on a new 2.1-metre-wide shared concrete path along Cadell Street, Wentworth. This project will provide safe pedestrian and cyclist access directly to Junction Park.
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Traffic control will be active for the duration of the works.
Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists are requested to follow on-site signage, adhere to temporary speed limits, and obey instructions from traffic controllers. Property access for residents will be maintained throughout construction, though minor delays may occur.
Road users are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when travelling through these work zones.

Line Marking and Signage Works – Buronga

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*** Re-scheduled to Monday 24 – Wednesday 26 August ***

 

LINE MARKING AND SIGNAGE WORKS – BURONGA
Dates: Monday 24 – Wednesday 26 August
Location: Intersection of Melaleuca Street and Pitman Avenue in Buronga.

Council will be installing new line marking and street signage at the intersection of Melaleuca Street and Pitman Avenue to improve intersection visibility and road safety.
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Traffic control will be active for the duration of the works.
Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists are requested to follow on-site signage, adhere to temporary speed limits, and obey instructions from traffic controllers. Property access for residents will be maintained throughout construction, though minor delays may occur.
Road users are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when travelling through these work zones.

Service Alignment Works – Gol Gol

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SERVICE ALIGNMENT WORKS – GOL GOL
Dates: Monday 17 – Friday 21 August
Location: Dawn Avenue, Lee Court, Thomas Street in Gol Gol

Council will undertake roadworks across Dawn Avenue, Lee Court, and Thomas Street to reinstate sunken service alignments back to surface level. These works will improve road safety and overall surface quality.
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Traffic control will be active for the duration of the works.
Motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists are requested to follow on-site signage, adhere to temporary speed limits, and obey instructions from traffic controllers. Property access for residents will be maintained throughout construction, though minor delays may occur.
Road users are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when travelling through these work zones.

Step Up for Rural Road Safety Month – August 2026

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Making Safety Our Top Priority Every Time We Drive

Rural Road Safety Month is a nationwide initiative supported by Transport for NSW to raise awareness of the unique and often challenging conditions on country roads. For those of us who live, work, and travel in Wentworth Shire, August is a timely reminder to step up for rural road safety and make it our top priority every time we get behind the wheel.

 

The Reality of Rural Roads

Our region offers wide open spaces and a strong sense of freedom, but our roads also present significant risks. It is easy to think we are safe because we “know the road,” but the statistics tell a different story.

 

Nationally, rural communities account for more than two-thirds of road deaths. In NSW, 83 percent of all fatal crashes on country roads involve a country resident. Four out of five crashes involve locals just like us. These numbers highlight a tragic reality: complacency is simply not an option.

Our 5-Week Focus for August

Throughout August, Wentworth Shire Council is running a dedicated campaign to target the most critical risk factors on our local roads. Each week, we will focus on a key area of road safety:

  • Week 1: Speed – Small increases can have big consequences. ‘Low level speeding’ is the single biggest cause of deaths and serious injuries on NSW roads.

  • Week 2: NSW Country Roads – Familiarity can be fatal. With country residents making up 4 out of 5 fatal crashes on our roads, we must remain vigilant on every trip, no matter how familiar the route.

  • Week 3: Fatigue – Don’t trust your tired self. Fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip, long or short, and are almost three times as likely to be fatal.

  • Week 4: Seatbelts – A simple click saves lives. Wearing a seatbelt doubles your chance of surviving a crash. In rollover crashes, people not wearing a seatbelt are more than 15 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries.

  • Week 5: Animals on Country Roads – Be prepared for the unexpected. Animal collisions are a significant risk, especially at dawn and dusk.

In addition to these risks, unsealed roads are often impacted by weather events. Always check road conditions before travelling and adjust your driving to suit.

Our Shared Responsibility

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility. This month, we encourage all community members to look out for our weekly updates on the Wentworth Shire Council Facebook page.

For more information and resources, visit the NSW Government’s Centre for Road Safety website (https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety).

Together, let us step up for rural road safety and ensure that everyone in our community gets home safely.

Fletcher’s Lake Road Upgrades Complete

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Fletcher’s Lake Road Upgrades Complete

Major pavement rehabilitation and widening works are officially complete on Fletcher’s Lake Road. This crucial upgrade ensures a more resilient network for residents, commuter traffic, and our regional freight industries.

Project Overview

  • Upgrade Length: 1.47km section

  • New Sealed Width: 7.4 meters

  • Funding Source: Fully funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund (RERRF)

Why This Upgrade Matters

Fletcher’s Lake Road serves as a vital heavy vehicle thoroughfare connecting the Coomealla and Pooncarie regions. The primary objectives of this rehabilitation project include:

  • Enhanced Safety: Lane widening provides more room for heavy vehicles and passenger cars to pass safely.

  • Reduced Maintenance: The renewed pavement significantly decreases the Council’s maintenance burden caused by reoccurring edge defects

Council thank local motorists and primary producers for their patience and cooperation while our crews delivered these road safety improvements.

Memorial Road Widening and Safety Works

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Memorial Road Widening and Safety Works

Council are pleased to announce that the scheduled road pavement rehabilitation and widening on Memorial Road is now complete, delivering an immediate safety boost to the local area.

Project Overview

  • Upgrade Length: 1km section

  • New Sealed Width: 6.8 meters

  • Funding Source: Fully funded by the NSW Government’s Regional Emergency Road Repair Fund (RERRF)

Improving Local Community Access

This project was specifically designed to target safety and ease of access for local residents and visitors utilising our community infrastructure. Key improvements include:

  • Curve Standardisation: Correcting and standardising horizontal curves to improve driver sightlines and vehicle handling.

  • Better Public Access: Providing a wider, safer, and smoother journey to critical local public spaces, including the Curlwaa Hall and oval.

Council thanks the Curlwaa community and local motorists for your patience throughout the duration of these civil works.

Old Wentworth Road Rehabilitated to Meet High Traffic Growth

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Old Wentworth Road Rehabilitated to Meet High Traffic Growth

To support our region’s rapid growth, major rehabilitation and widening works have been completed on a key section of Old Wentworth Road.

Project Overview

  • Upgrade Length: 1.12km section

  • New Sealed Width: 7.4 meters

  • Funding Source: Fully funded by the Australian Government’s Roads to Recovery (RTR) program

Catering to Region Growth

Old Wentworth Road has experienced an extraordinary surge in daily traffic over recent years. This upgrade directly addresses that pressure by:

  • Bringing Pavement to Standard: Rebuilding the existing sealed pavement to ensure it can durable handle current and projected traffic volumes.

  • Showground Access: Significantly improving traffic flow and road safety for visitors heading to the Wentworth Showgrounds (Pavillion Road).

Council appreciates the patience of all motorists while these essential upgrades were carried out to future-proof our local road network.

Take care driving in foggy conditions

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Transport for NSW (TfNSW) advises drivers in foggy conditions to significantly reduce speed, switch on low-beam headlights or fog lights, and increase the gap to the vehicle in front.
High-beam lights should never be used as they reflect off moisture and reduce visibility further.
Review these essential TfNSW safety practices for navigating safely through thick fog:
  • Turn on Your Lights: Use your low-beam headlights so other drivers can see you. If visibility is seriously reduced (under 100 metres), turn on your vehicle’s fog lights. Make sure to turn them off when conditions improve to avoid dazzling other drivers – it is also illegal to use fog lights when not foggy.
  • Slow Down: Reduce your speed to ensure you can stop safely within the distance you can actually see.
  • Increase Following Distance: Leave a larger gap between you and the vehicle ahead to allow for sudden stops. Standard safe distances should be doubled in adverse weather.
  • Avoid Sudden Movements: Brake gently and early to prevent skidding or causing a multi-vehicle collision.
  • Keep Windshields Clear: Use your wipers and vehicle defrosters to keep your view of the road as clear as possible.
  • Pull Over if Necessary: If visibility becomes dangerously low, pull over safely, turn on your hazard lights, and wait for conditions to improve.