Council removes controversial roundabout after public backlash
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If you thought you’d seen it all when it comes to Aussie roadworks, think again!
In a saga that’s left local drivers scratching their heads (and probably muttering a few choice words under their breath), the city council has quietly removed a roundabout so bizarre that it made national headlines, just days after it was installed.
Fifteenth Avenue in southwest Sydney, a road that’s soon to become a major artery leading to the new Western Sydney Airport, has been a hive of activity lately.
The Liverpool Council, keen to keep traffic flowing, recently installed not one, not two, but three new roundabouts in quick succession.
But it was the third, at the intersection with 28th Avenue, that really got people talking—and not in a good way.
This wasn’t your standard roundabout. No, this was a diamond-shaped roundabout, a design so unconventional that drivers were left completely baffled.
Footage captured by onlookers showed motorists ignoring the painted lines altogether, simply driving straight through the intersection as if the roundabout didn’t exist. (To be fair, with a shape like that, who could blame them?)
The backlash was swift and fierce. Residents took to social media, local MPs weighed in, and the council’s phone lines lit up with complaints.
The verdict was clear: the diamond roundabout was a dud.
In a move that can only be described as a quiet retreat, council workers swooped in under the cover of darkness on Friday night and erased all traces of the ill-fated road feature.
By Saturday morning, the diamond was gone, the mound in the middle had been removed, and the intersection had been repainted with more traditional line markings.
The roundabout sign was replaced with a regular Give Way sign, and the council spokesperson confirmed: 'We listened to our residents. It was a design that didn’t work. There were lots of complaints about it, so the simplest thing to do was to get rid of it.'
Local MP Nathan Hagarty was quick to visit the scene, sharing a video with his constituents.
'Cars are still stopping, they’re not sure what to do,' he observed, highlighting the confusion that lingered even after the roundabout’s removal. Hagarty didn’t mince words, calling the whole affair a 'disgraceful saga' and questioning how the final product could differ so much from the original designs.
'How much money has been wasted?' he asked, echoing the thoughts of many ratepayers.
So, what went wrong? According to the council, the intersection has always been a tricky one, and they’ve been waiting years for a proper upgrade from the state government.
With the Western Sydney International Airport set to open soon, Fifteenth Avenue is expected to become a major thoroughfare, but as the council spokesperson admitted, 'It’s not going to be ready in time. It hasn’t been done properly, and there’s more pain to come, unfortunately, until that road is upgraded.'
This isn’t the first time a local council has come under fire for questionable road designs, and it probably won’t be the last.
Across Australia, as our cities grow and change, councils are under pressure to keep up with infrastructure demands.
Sometimes, that means thinking outside the box—but as this saga shows, not every experiment is a winner.
Roundabouts are meant to improve traffic flow and safety, but when they’re poorly designed or implemented, they can do just the opposite.
In Australia, we’ve seen everything from mini-roundabouts that are too small for trucks to confusing multi-lane monsters that leave even the most experienced drivers second-guessing themselves.
Add in unusual shapes or unclear signage, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos.
Before rolling out new road features, councils should seek feedback from the people who actually use the roads—local residents, delivery drivers, and emergency services.
Trialling temporary changes and monitoring how drivers respond can also help avoid costly mistakes.
And, of course, sticking to tried-and-true designs (unless there’s a really good reason not to) is usually the safest bet.
Credit: YouTube
Have you ever encountered a roundabout or intersection that left you scratching your head? Did your council fix it, or is it still causing confusion? Share your experiences in the comments below.
Read more: Authorities ‘bust the myth’ about this little-known road rule that could cost you up to $349
In a saga that’s left local drivers scratching their heads (and probably muttering a few choice words under their breath), the city council has quietly removed a roundabout so bizarre that it made national headlines, just days after it was installed.
Fifteenth Avenue in southwest Sydney, a road that’s soon to become a major artery leading to the new Western Sydney Airport, has been a hive of activity lately.
The Liverpool Council, keen to keep traffic flowing, recently installed not one, not two, but three new roundabouts in quick succession.
But it was the third, at the intersection with 28th Avenue, that really got people talking—and not in a good way.
Liverpool Council removed a diamond-shaped roundabout after complaints from drivers in Sydney’s southwest. Credit: YouTube
This wasn’t your standard roundabout. No, this was a diamond-shaped roundabout, a design so unconventional that drivers were left completely baffled.
Footage captured by onlookers showed motorists ignoring the painted lines altogether, simply driving straight through the intersection as if the roundabout didn’t exist. (To be fair, with a shape like that, who could blame them?)
The backlash was swift and fierce. Residents took to social media, local MPs weighed in, and the council’s phone lines lit up with complaints.
The verdict was clear: the diamond roundabout was a dud.
In a move that can only be described as a quiet retreat, council workers swooped in under the cover of darkness on Friday night and erased all traces of the ill-fated road feature.
By Saturday morning, the diamond was gone, the mound in the middle had been removed, and the intersection had been repainted with more traditional line markings.
The roundabout sign was replaced with a regular Give Way sign, and the council spokesperson confirmed: 'We listened to our residents. It was a design that didn’t work. There were lots of complaints about it, so the simplest thing to do was to get rid of it.'
Local MP Nathan Hagarty was quick to visit the scene, sharing a video with his constituents.
'Cars are still stopping, they’re not sure what to do,' he observed, highlighting the confusion that lingered even after the roundabout’s removal. Hagarty didn’t mince words, calling the whole affair a 'disgraceful saga' and questioning how the final product could differ so much from the original designs.
'How much money has been wasted?' he asked, echoing the thoughts of many ratepayers.
With the Western Sydney International Airport set to open soon, Fifteenth Avenue is expected to become a major thoroughfare, but as the council spokesperson admitted, 'It’s not going to be ready in time. It hasn’t been done properly, and there’s more pain to come, unfortunately, until that road is upgraded.'
This isn’t the first time a local council has come under fire for questionable road designs, and it probably won’t be the last.
Across Australia, as our cities grow and change, councils are under pressure to keep up with infrastructure demands.
Sometimes, that means thinking outside the box—but as this saga shows, not every experiment is a winner.
Roundabouts are meant to improve traffic flow and safety, but when they’re poorly designed or implemented, they can do just the opposite.
Add in unusual shapes or unclear signage, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos.
Before rolling out new road features, councils should seek feedback from the people who actually use the roads—local residents, delivery drivers, and emergency services.
Trialling temporary changes and monitoring how drivers respond can also help avoid costly mistakes.
And, of course, sticking to tried-and-true designs (unless there’s a really good reason not to) is usually the safest bet.
Credit: YouTube
Read more: Authorities ‘bust the myth’ about this little-known road rule that could cost you up to $349
