Council’s traffic consultants PeopleTrans have completed a traffic study reviewing the impacts of the traffic signals at the intersection of Mowbray Road West/Beaconsfield Rd and reviewing the traffic changes for Mowbray Road proposed by Lane Cove Council in conjunction with redevelopment activity on their side of Mowbray Road. 

The consultants found that traffic volumes have all dropped on Beaconsfield Rd, Dalrymple Ave, Coolaroo Rd (east of Greenlands), Greenlands Rd and Goodchap Road since the signals were introduced.

FULL REPORT

9.1 Mowbray Road Traffic Study Aug 2014

One of the key issues examined by the consultants was the issue of perceived increases in traffic on Dalrymple Avenue and Coolaroo Road since the signals at Mowbray Road/Beaconsfield Road were introduced. The consultants have found that banning right turns out of Beaconsfield Road “has not resulted in significant traffic increases in local roads to the north of Mowbray Road West”. The consultants also found that the signals had not resulted in an appreciable deterioration in traffic conditions on Mowbray Road West. The only notable increase in traffic has been identified as being on Coolaroo Road, west of Greenlands Avenue where there has been an increase in traffic of 35 vehicles (almost all in an eastbound direction). 

The consultant’s report goes to Council on Monday 1st September at 6 PM, Banksia Room, Level 6 in the Council Building, Victor St. You have the right to speak at this meeting.

New State legislation makes dealing with trees on your property even more confusing. Make sure you get it right. If you don’t you could be fined tens of thousands of dollars.

Traditionally, the legislation covering the removal of trees on your property has been the local Council’s Tree Preservation Order. More recently, new legislation (known as 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Code of Practice) has been enacted. In addition, your land may be covered the Native Vegetation Act or the Threatened Species Conservation Act.

This new legislation makes the removal of trees and vegetation that much more complex. Get it wrong and you may pay (big time). 

The best advice is to confer with your local Council before cutting down any tree on your property.

The Association has been contacted by a representative of the Church of Scientology (see below). We plan to arrange a meeting to hear about what is proposed. Watch this space for deatils.

As you may be aware, the former Acoustics Laboratory building at 126 Greville Street, Chatswood West, was previously used as a commercial office premises associated with the National Acoustic Laboratory.  It is our understanding that although there have been several proposals put forward to Council regarding the site’s future use, it continues to remain vacant.

The Church of Scientology Australia (CSA) is now proposing to reactive the site and reuse the vacant building for its regional headquarters, which would include administrative, educational, and related Church activities.   The CSA has prepared an initial design concept to adaptively reuse the building so as CSA can establish a suitable education and training facility.

 CSA states that it is strongly committed to achieving a sustainable development outcome by:

 Utilising the existing building structure

• Using materials associated with the existing building
• Maintaining the existing landscape
• Protecting the surrounding environment
• Promoting public transport access to the site
• Continuing local resident access to the site’s grounds and the surrounding Bushland Reserve.

 As the planning concept and design evolves in the coming weeks, CSA have asked Urbis to independently invite feedback from the surrounding community and interested stakeholders to inform Development Application (DA) plans.

As part of this consultation process, CSA have asked us to offer your group a briefing on the proposed development concept and consultation process and to receive initial feedback.

 Please do not hesitate to contact me on 8233 9968 or via return email to discuss the proposal and to organise a possible briefing time and date.

 Best regards

 Michael Grosvenor, Urbis Consultation Team

Mowbray Public School will shortly be undergoing a major rebuilding program with a large portion of the existing school buildings being demolished and rebuilt. This rebuilding is likely to begin in term 4 of this year. The school currently has a roll of 380 students and enrolments for 2015 are in the order of 400 children. As a consequence of the building program, access to the school (during the building work) will be limited to a path that exits onto Hatfield Street at the eastern end of the school grounds. Under the current plans this will be the only form of access to the school and the Principal has raised concerns about potential pedestrian safety concerns given the student, parent and preschoolers movements to and from he school onto Hatfield Street and the associated traffic movements. In addition, many unrestricted parking spaces in the vicinity of Mowbray Public School are being used as all day parking for those involved in the construction of apartment buildings on the opposite side of Mowbray Road from the school.

As part of the development, some parking changes have already been approved along both Mowbray Road and Hatfield Street with the installation of No Parking restrictions from 8.00 am – 9.30 am and 2.30 pm – 4.00 pm along the unrestricted section of Mowbray Road and along the school side of Hatfield Street. These No Parking restrictions will provide for Drop
off / Pick up zone with high turnover of vehicles.

One of the conditions of consent for the development at the school requires the developer to prepare and submit a Construction Traffic Management Plan. Although this plan has yet to be received, given that pedestrian access to the school during construction is to be restricted to Hatfield Street it is considered that a pedestrian crossing will almost certainly be required across Hatfield Street to provide for the safety of students. Consequently it is proposed that the developer be required to install a full pedestrian crossing with appropriate signage on Hatfield Street just north of the gate providing access to the school path (south of Farran Street). This crossing will be in place for the duration of the construction period (expected completion currently January 2016). Once works are completed ongoing approval for the crossing will be considered subject to compliance with the required warrants.

OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION
That :
1. The Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) for the Mowbray School expansion include a requirement for the introduction of a temporary pedestrian crossing on Hatfield Street.

2. The crossing to be installed at the developer’s cost and sited north of the school gate and south of Farran Street. The CTMP to include a dimensioned plan detailing the location of the crossing and associated signage and
linemarking in accordance with RMS technical directives.

3. The longer term retention of the pedestrian crossing to be reviewed by the Traffic Committee upon completion of the construction to ensure that it still meets the necessary warrant.

Under Council’s missing links footpath program a footpath is proposed for introduction along Hawthorne Avenue. Hawthorne Avenue currently has no footpath with pedestrians walking on the road. A footpath is to be provided on the southern (even numbered) side of the road.In two locations the topography prevents construction of a footpath and at these locations it
is proposed to create a marked pedestrian area on the road pavement.

The first of these locations is at No.12 where a sandstone rock face is situated within 300mm of the kerb alignment. At No. 48 the gradient on the nature strip is excessively steep and a footpath can’t reasonably be constructed. At these locations the footpath stops and pedestrians are redirected onto a linemarked “path” on the road carriageway. The footpath then continues on the nature strip once the obstruction is passed. The on road footpath sections will be painted blue with pedestrian logos to ensure it is highly visible and clarify the intent of the zone to motorists. No Stopping Zones are also proposed to ensure that cars don’t park on the on-road footpath and also to ensure that there is sufficient space for cars to
pass. Pedestrian Warning signs will be installed on the approaches Hawthorne Avenue carries very low volumes of traffic so the level of risk is not high. RMS have been asked for their views on the proposal and do not oppose the work. Prior to
consulting with the community regarding the work, the draft plans are being submitted for Traffic Committee consideration. If there is Traffic Committee support for the work staff will then consult with the impacted community and report further to Council before proceeding with the installation of the path.

OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION
That the draft plans for on road footpath sections on Hawthorne Avenue be approved noting that the plans will be circulated to residents of Hawthorne Avenue for consultation prior to the work being introduced.

As part of the Boundary Road upgrades, it is proposed to signalise the intersection of Corona Avenue and the Pacific Highway. This will ensure that vehicles can leave Corona Avenue under protection of traffic signals and also means that pedestrians crossing Corona Avenue can do so with the assistance of pedestrian signals. Both are positive changes and are supported. The signalisation of Corona Avenue will however mean that 20m of “No Stopping” will need to be introduced on both sides of Corona Avenue on approach to the Pacific Highway. This change is also supported as it will improve safety for vehicles turning in and out of the street although it will result in the loss of three 1P parking spaces on the south side of Corona Avenue. These spaces provide for the short term parking needs of customers of commercial premises sited on the corner.

Council Ssaff will be meeting with RMS consultants and Ku-Ring-Gai Council on Thursday 14 August to discuss options for re-siting of these 1P spaces further to the west in front of adjacent residential premises. RMS will be consulting with impacted premises prior to relocation of the 1P spaces. A paln of proposed changes can be viewed  here .

Clr. Saville has advised as follows: I can assure you that the  consultants Traffic report re the Coolaroo, Greenfields, Dalrymple precinct has been finalised.

The consultants have submitted the completed copy to council. While I do not have a copy I have seen it, but not had time to read it as yet.

Paul Collings hopes to bring the report to the Traffic and Access committee  Monday 1st September.

Keep an eye on the Agenda which will be on councils website.

Purpose of Report
Councillor Saville has indicated her intention to resubmit for Councils consideration the
Notice of Motion that she moved at the Council Meeting on 24 February, 2014. The terms of the Motion now resubmitted are as follows:

Motion
“THAT Willoughby City Council develops a strategy for, and provides funding to improve the amenity, streetscapes and footpaths, with tree planting and vegetation, within WCC, along Pacific Highway between Boundary Road and St. Leonards.”

Background
The intent of the motion is to progress and consolidate previous plans for street tree planting within WCC (previously Mr Jeff Organ was officer in charge) particularly along the Pacific Highway.

We as a council need to consider the presentation of the CBD along the Pacific Highway, to visitors as well as residents. The Pacific Highway needs visual improvement, to better present the CBD, and at the same time, provide shade, cooling, amenity and water retention. For a variety of reasons, areas of footpath and nature strip along the Pacific Highway have not been upgraded for many years, such as near the Seymour building, near the garage at the corner of Boundary Street and opposite Chatswood Primary School. There are sections of the Pacific Highway devoid of vegetation, other sections with few trees, and/or with little or no nature strip.

Trees and planting along the verge would provide shade, reduce sun exposure, and encourage more people to walk, by improving the amenity.

The motion recognises that it is time to develop a consistent approach to the Pacific
Highway streetscape.

It proposes that as a priority the section of the Pacific Highway footpath between Fullers Road and Mowbray Road (both sides) be upgraded, consistent with the plantings on the east side of the Highway near Brown Street.

Furthermore, the planting of appropriate trees and understorey would reduce heat island effect, cooling the walkways, and improving conditions to encourage people to walk.

Increased soft landscape along the highway would provide more opportunity for water retention, reducing runoff.

In summary, the intent of the motion is to improve amenity of the highway with consideration of:

• presentation of the CBD
• amenity
• shade
• encourage walkability
• temperature control
• water retention

Acting General Manager’s Comments
At the time of the original Notice of Motion, the General Managers comments were that, prior to committing funding, a report on options should be considered by Council and the Officers recommendation was:
“That a report be prepared outlining costs and options for implementation of a streetscape improvement program for the Pacific Highway.”

Council adopted the Officers recommendation.

In April 2014 a report was presented to Council as follows:

Discussion
The length of the Pacific Highway within the Willoughby City Council local government area boundary is 5.5 kilometres. The highway is a State Road and is maintained from kerb to kerb by the NSW Government / Roads and Maritime Services. Over half of this highway length (3.5 kms) borders with Lane Cove Council (from Mowbray Road to St Leonards).

The responsibility for the footpaths, verges and any street trees remains with the relevant Council. On sections of the Highway where overhead power lines exist, Ausgrid have taken responsibility for the pruning / removal of trees affecting the electricity grid.

Conclusion
Given the extent and scope of the work outlined in the Council resolution, it is recommended that the work be subject to the engagement of a suitably qualified landscape architect/ urban designer as currently Council does not have the available resources to complete such a report.

OFFICERS RECOMMENDATION
“That funds of $25,000 be considered in the draft 2014/15 Council budget to engage a suitably qualified urban landscape professional to undertake site analysis, concept options and costings for streetscape improvements for the Pacific Highway within the Willoughby City Council LGA.”

The Council did not adopt the Officers recommendation. The following Motion was put but was however Lost and so no further action was taken with the matter.

That funds of $25,000 be considered in the draft 2014/15 Council budget to engage a suitably qualified urban landscape professional to undertake site analysis, concept options and costings for staged streetscape improvements for the Pacific Highway within the Willoughby City Council LGA.

MOVED COUNCILLOR SAVILLE
SECONDED COUNCILLOR SLOANE
LOST

Voting
For the Resolution: Councillors Saville, Norton and Sloane.
Against: Councillors Rozos, Eriksson, Mustaca, Giles-Gidney, Rutherford and
Hooper.”

The budget for 2014/2015 has now been adopted and no funding for such a project as proposed in the resubmitted Notice of Motion has been provided for.

The Chatswood CBD Urban Design Study is to be reported to Council later this year. That report is expected to contain recommendations about urban design streetscape improvements to Pacific Highway as it adjoins the Chatswood CBD and in the context of the Chatswood Urban Design plan. The improvements however are limited to a lesser area than that contemplated in the resubmitted Notice of Motion which refers to the entire length of the Highway from Boundary St to St. Leonards.

The project was not raised at the Councillors Workshop on the 19th July as an initiative that
should be undertaken.

On that basis I recommend that no further action be taken on this proposal until such time as the Councillors review the adopted priorities.

If Council believes that the project is still warranted having regard to the priorities already agreed at the Councillors Workshop, then the following recommendation might be considered.

That funds of $30,000 be considered in the draft 2015/16 Council budget for a suitably qualified urban landscape professional to be engaged to undertake site analysis, concept options and costings for staged streetscape improvements for the Pacific Highway within the Willoughby City Council LGA.

OFFICERS RECOMMENDATION
That Council consider the Motion of Councillor Saville for a strategy and funding for improvements along the Pacific Highway between Boundary Street and St Leonards.

Purpose of Report

A Notice of Motion was presented to Council by Councillor L Saville at its meeting of 4 November 2013. This Report responds to that Notice of Motion.

 Background

Council resolved on 4 November:

That Willoughby City Council:

1. Notes with concern that over the last decade the amount of public open space held by local councils across NSW is reported to have fallen by 18.3%

2. That a report is provided by staff which includes quantification of the amount of open space per head in the CBD currently available and compared with data previously 
provided in WCC S94 Plan

Discussion
The 1996 s94 Contributions Plan said: “There is currently 6.61ha of open space currently being used by residents and workers within the Chatswood City Centre Open Space Catchment area. This is equivalent to 3.10 m² of open space per combined resident, commercial and retail workers”. “It is anticipated that the amount of open space land per person will fall from 3.10 m² in 1996 to 2.09 m² by the year 2006 if the forecast population increase is realised.”

The s94 contributions plan did not provide detail as to the source of the figure for the amount of open space. The combined resident and worker population in 1996 was estimated to be 21,981. Using the open space figure of 66,100sqm and total resident/worker population the amount of open space was 3.10 m²/person. The current (2014) resident population of Chatswood is estimated to be 7538 persons and the worker population is estimated to be 23,208 giving a total population of 30,746 persons. The total current amount of open space for the CBD is estimated currently to be 108,068 m² (10.8ha). This amount represents an amount of open space of 3.5 m² /person. The quantum of open space per person is not a good measure as to whether the recreational needs of residents or workers are being met. The type, quality, access and associated facilities also are factors in determining whether the open space is satisfactory and appropriate. There may also be cultural and demographic (particularly age) determinants for the value of open space to a local population.

Since 1996 the main additions to open space in the CBD have been:

a) The Concourse;

b) The O‟Brien Street to Cambridge Lane pedestrian link;

c) The open space in Victoria Avenue/ Katherine Street adjoining the Bentleigh building;

d) The space surrounding the significant tree adjoining the Police Station;

e) The corridor adjoining Chatswood Chase in Havilah Street.

f) The Open Space associated with the Pacific Place Development in Railway Street.

Changes have included the rebuilding of the Interchange site, upgrades to Currey Park, improvements to the Mall, improvements to Chatswood Park / skateboard park, modification to the public precinct at 465 Railway Street and the improvements to the plaza at the front of the Zenith buildings

Planned open space not included in the open space figures above include the Thomas Street (Meriton) open space plaza, the forecourt open space on the Albert/ Archer site and closure of Spring St.

The Department of Planning Recreation and Open Space Guidelines for Local Government (December 2010) includes the following statements about “default” standards for the provision of open space:

4.2 „Default‟ and locally appropriate provision standards. The most basic way to identify need is via general provision rates of open space and recreation facilities from elsewhere. These standards should only be a starting reference point; over reliance on such standards in lieu of rigorous and consultative research into the community‟s requirements may produce unsatisfactory results in terms of rates of provision and the location of open space.

In NSW the „fixed‟ standard of 2.83 ha of open space per 1,000 people has often been applied. This is derived from the British seven acres per 1,000 residents standard from the early 1900s which is irrelevant to contemporary planning and ignores the fact that open space of different types needs to be provided to accommodate different needs.

The simple fixed, quantitative standard is also irrelevant given observed rates of provision in the different parts of metropolitan Sydney. About five percent of inner urban Sydney is classified as open space. If the 2.83 ha per 1,000 people standard was applied about 16 percent of the area would be devoted to open space. The reality is that the residents of inner urban Sydney have access to a range of recreational and leisure opportunities that the existing open space assets (including high quality urban public spaces and harbour and beach foreshores) manage to deliver (though there 
may be some pressure on outdoor sports areas).

It should be noted that the Department of Planning guidelines referred to above do not 
include provision for worker open space.

OFFICER’S RECOMMENDATION

That Council consider the response to Clr Saville’s Notice of Motion – Open Space.

Following the development of a prioritisation process, Council staff have compiled a list of traffic matters / proposals that have been subsequently assessed and scored. The
hotspots existing list is not exhaustive and other measures or actions may be added in response to Councillor feedback and as new issues are raised by the community.

Hotspots that will be addressed in the next year are:

1. Spring Street closure (including replacement of pedestrian refuge with pedestrian
crossing in Spring Street) – $181,500
2. Frenchs Road at Alpha Street – ban right turn (following community liaison) – $500
3. High Street, near Oakville Road (raised crossing) – $20,000
4. Mowbray Road, east of Felton Avenue– convert existing pedestrian refuge – $5000
5. North Willoughby – Review of LATM study – $35,000

Projects completed in 2013/14
In 2013/14 the following projects on the Hotspots list were completed:
– Traffic Signals at Mowbray Road and Beaconsfield Road
– Installation of 6 pedestrian refuges on Mowbray Road West by Lane Cove Council
– Speed cushions on Victoria Avenue on the approach to the Stanley Street pedestrian
crossing
– On Mowbray Road at Hampden Road an extended median and STOP restriction
were introduced
– Painted chevron lines on Archer Street and a Give Way restriction was installed on
William Street to improve sight distance and reduce turning/cross traffic accidents
– A Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan was prepared for the Chatswood CBD area.
Reporting to Council in regard to this study will be completed in the coming month
– A traffic study reviewing the impacts of the Mowbray Road/Beaconsfield Road traffic
signals and the traffic recommendations associated with rezoning of land on the Lane
Cove side of Mowbray Road. Reporting to Council in regard to this study will be
completed in the coming month
– Fullers Road, between James Street and Greville Street – reduction to One Lane
westbound with turning bays
– On Centennial Avenue – a 2 lane speed hump was installed west of Jenkins Street
– On Herbert Street at Ella Street the centre line was remarked and raised reflective
pavement markers introduced on the bend to the east of the intersection to improve
delineation and reduce the run off road crash rate.

Highest Ranked projects and funding levels
Based upon the ranking database the following are the projects that are the most highly
ranked within the current Hotspots list:
1. Victoria Avenue, convert eastbound lane to bus lane
2. Spring Street, road closure at Victoria Avenue
3. Eastern Valley Way / Edinburgh Road – right turn phase
4. Mowbray Road at Centennial Avenue – right turn phase ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING
5. Mowbray Road at Sydney Street – monitoring after introduction of filter turn ban in
November 2010
6. Archer Street / Ashley Street – ban southbound right turns (buses excepted). RMS
has to date opposed this work
7. Herbert Street / Ella Street – non skid surface treatment on Herbert Street
8. Alpha Road / Frenchs Road – ban right turn out of Frenchs Road and reduce speed
limit on Alpha Road
9. Brook Street / Merrenburn Avenue – median along length of Brook Street. (Most
recent data shows a reduction in crashes – monitor only)
10. High Street, near Oakville Road – speed cushions or raised pedestrian crossing
11. Mowbray Road east of Felton Road – convert existing refuge to match others and
improve bicycle and bus access
12. North Willoughby – review of 2008 LATM study
13. Archer Street south of Boundary Street – widen for northbound bus lane and extra
capacity
14. Alpha Road / Frenchs Road – traffic signals with right turn and pedestrian phases
15. Albert Avenue / Albert Lane – Left Turn Only out of Albert Lane (will be implemented
once Meriton development completed)
16. Victoria Avenue, east of Anderson Street – convert indented parking to Taxi Zone (in
conjunction with Victoria Avenue bus lane)
17. Archer Street at Waratah and William – No Stopping signs
18. Oliver Street at Pacific Highway – widen Oliver Street for 2 way access/restrict
Centennial Avenue to left in/left out
19. Clanwilliam Street / Penshurst Street – No Right Turn 6am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm
Mon-Fri
20. Mowbray Road West at Bowen Street – ban right turn into Bowen Street