23 July 2015

Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Duncan Gay today announced the Meccano Set across the intersection of Woodville Road Henry Lawson Drive and the Hume Highway at Lansdowne is set to stay.

“The community provided an overwhelming response to the future of the well- known Sydney landmark and we have listened,” Mr Gay said.

“I’ve learnt how much people love the Meccano Set with more than 220 people responding during recent consultation - around 90 per cent wanting it to remain in place.

“I’m thrilled to know the structure is staying - as a kid on the way to Sydney, you knew when you’d hit the Meccano Set, you were nearly there.

“The structure which supports traffic lights and directional signs was installed in the 1960s and has been maintained by Roads and Maritime Services for the past five decades.

“While the Meccano Set is not heritage listed, it is a well-known structure at an intersection used by thousands of motorists daily.

“We’re not in the business of removing functional and much-loved pieces of infrastructure – if it ain’t broke and the community loves it, we don’t intend on changing it.

“Roads and Maritime considered repainting and maintaining the structure or removing and replacing it with free standing traffic lights but after receiving such strong support the original plans were scrapped.”

Investigations are now continuing to help develop a maintenance plan to ensure the structure continues to serve the community well into the future.

MEDIA: Vanessa Juresic, 0419 618 081

View the original media release