Inadequate street numbering concerns raised at council
Wednesday December 3, 2008
Local police Sergeant John Bennett addressed last Thursday’s general meeting of Cobar Shire Council regarding concerns raised by the Local Emergency Management
Committee about inadequate and inconsistent street numbering in Cobar.
Inconsistent street numbering in Cobar could end up a matter for the coroner if a death occurs, Sergeant John Bennett told Cobar Shire Council last week.
Sergeant Bennett addressed last Thursday’s council meeting on behalf of the Local
Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) to raise their concerns about street numbering in town.
Sergeant Bennett said currently many emergency services have difficulties locating addresses due to inadequate numbering.
“It’s only a matter of time before something happens, like a death, as a result of this.
“If that then goes to the coroner, and back to the LEMC it will eventually come back to council because this issue has been raised in the past,” Sergeant Bennett said.
Councillors heard that the matter has been brought up with council a number of times, with mayor Lilliane Brady saying she believes the issue has been deferred for more than nine years.
Sergeant Bennett said while he and many other emergency service personnel have a good knowledge, it is difficult for new staff.
“It’s hard to get a good knowledge of
who lives where with Cobar’s transient population.
“Sometimes we run up and down the street to find a place,” Sergeant Bennett said.
Sergeant Bennett explained that rural addresses are an even bigger problem, but believed there is currently a state-wide investigation into that issue.
He suggested reflective numbering on gutters, and street name signs which indicated the house numbers on each block.
Councillors agreed a uniform system would be better than asking residents to do their own.
Council resolved to seek funding for the project.
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