Chatswood Chase has lodged a Development Application seeking to reduce free parking to 2 hours (currently 3 hours). for 2 1/2 hours you will pay $3.00. Parking for 3 hours will cost $6.00. After that normal fees apply. It is also proposed to ‘trial’ a validation system to allow the third hour for free IF you spend more than $50.00.

The Council Officer is recommending APPROVAL of the proposal albeit with some changes to the application viz.the third hour validation to be unrestricted (no need to spend $50.00) and a maximum charge of $3.00 for the third hour.

Of major concern with this proposal is that it was NOT PUBLICLY NOTIFIED as the Council Officers knew that “Council is aware of the opinion of the community Regarding 3 hours versus 2 hours free parking for shoppers it having been a subject of much ongoing complaint in recent years”.

Westfield have lodged a Development Application to upgrade their entrance on Victoria Avenue. Currently the entry is 2 storeys. Westfield want to go to 5 storeys. They want to bring in more restaurants, shops and entertainment premises. Willoughby Council will not be determining the application. It goes to the Joint Regional Planning Panel. Council can comment on the proposal. They generally support the proposal and associated Voluntary Planning Agreement.

The proposal will impact Charlotte Lane with six short-term on street car spaces to be removed from Charlotte Lane. Westfield is offering Willoughby Council only 90% of the value of the land in Charlotte Lane. Westfield already has less off-street parking spaces than required. They have previously given money to Council because of the shortfall. One would hope that the lost car spots can be relocated rather than lost.

There is an associated Voluntary Planning Agreement to add 36 new spaces to the Albert Ave car park in exchange for removing long-stay spaces on levels five and six. It is unclear whether this results in additional spaces or is just changing existing spaces from long to short-term. Based on feedback on Council’s Proposed Parking Strategy there would be concern about losing long-term worker car parking within the city centre.

There has been a complaint regarding the electronic animated
billboard that has been installed by Chatswood Primary School on the Pacific Highway (see comment below).

The Minister for Roads has indicated that “animated signs which are visible to drivers are not allowed under the current guidelines.

(Note: Image not representative of billboard installed)

Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney has announced that Council is looking to spend $30,000 to ­beautify the suburbs under the Urban Tree Management Policy. This would allow for the planting of 400 new trees.

Of course, whilst most of us would like to see more trees, it is important that they are the right species and planted in the right places.

Council would like to hear from  us as to where the new trees should be planted.

The  Council report also mentions a few surprise. “Tree-lined avenues are likely to slow traffic speed and quality streetscapes will increase real estate values,” the report said. Not sure if this could also mean that the trees will become a traffic hazard.

The policy will go to a council meeting in July and if approved, will be on public exhibition in July.

IPART have announced massive increases in Council rates (over 50% for some Councils). You may recall that Willoughby Council was intending to seek a large rate increase but this was withdrawn after the passing of Emeritus Mayor Reilly and the subsequent Mayoral election. So this year we will have the ‘rate-pegged’ increase around 2.3%.

Why will Council need to increase its rates? The main reason is that for the past 30 years rates have artificially been kept excessively low. So Councils are now having to play ‘catch up’.

Will Willoughby Council in future years seek an increase above the ‘pegged’ rate? Highly likely.

With Council elections scheduled for 2015 it is likely that there will need to be changes made to Ward boundaries. Legislation requires that all Wards be within 10% of each other for the number of electors.

Currently the boundaries of West Ward are: Mowbray Rd (from Claude St), Mowbray Rd West to Lane Cove River and back by Blue Gum Creek to Boundary St. Then down the railway line to Ashley St, across to Archer St. Down Victoria Avenue to Claude St and back to Mowbray Rd.

Currently, West Ward abuts two other wards – Middle Harbour Ward to the East and Naremburn Ward to the South.

Given the amount of unit development within the CBD that is in West Ward, it is likely that West Ward will need to divest some electors. Areas that could be at risk of moving to another Ward are the ‘Flower’ Streets (Mills Lane to Ashley St) and between Chatswood Park and Mowbray Rd. However, other configurations are also possible.

Willoughby City Council is seeking community feedback on the proposed Draft Street Parking Strategy, which aims to optimise street parking, and offer greater choice to residents, visitors and workers about how, why and where they park.
The Draft Street Parking Strategy is made up of six different parking policies, which
cover all aspects of on-street parking needs within the City – from residential, to
commuter, business and long stay options, as well as specific needs for motorcycles, trades people, people with disabilities, carers and car share.

The Draft Street Parking Strategy aims to:

• Optimise street parking capacity by encouraging greater turnover of parking spaces
• Provide equitable sharing of existing street parking spaces among users
• Maintain access to local services and amenities
• Manage parking allocation for motorcycles
• Improve street parking requirements for trade worker vehicles
• Encourage developers to consider the need for construction and trade vehicle parking prior to construction
• Manage parking allocation for car share schemes
• Encourage and improve access to alternative and active transport modes
• Manage demand and provision for long-stay employee parking
• Re-address the allocation of street parking for residents, visitors and carers

Council is proposing to

• Increase and/or decrease parking fees – via an adjustable pay-parking system to manage street parking
• Increase resident parking permits to up to three cars per household
• Introduce visitor parking permits
• Provide improved security and additional parking, through various means, for motorcycles
• Allocate a proportion of available street parking to long-stay visitors and managing demand through pay-parking charges
• Vary parking prices and restrictions to optimise the turn over of parking spaces in major shopping areas

Have Your Say
Find out more, and provide feedback via survey until Thursday 31 July at
http://www.haveyoursaywilloughby.com.au

Attend a Public Meeting:

7pm, Thursday 12 June – St Leonard’s Catholic Church Hall, 43 Donnelly Road, Naremburn

7pm, Thursday 19 June – Dougherty Community Centre, 7 Victor Street, Chatswood

7pm, Thursday 26 June – The Willis Recreation and Sport Centre, 325A Eastern Valley Way, Castle Cove

2pm, Saturday 12 July – Willoughby Uniting Church Hall, 10 Clanwilliam Street, Willoughby

If you do not understand this document, phone 9777 1000 to discuss with Council staff, or visit Council’s Administration Building at 31 Victor Street, Chatswood (8.30am-5pm, Monday to Friday).

Alternatively phone the Translating & Interpreting Service on 131 450.

You can also provide feedback in writing by Thursday 31 July to:
The General Manager
Willoughby City Council
31 Victor Street
Chatswood NSW 2067

Council is continuing looking at ways to improve pedestrian safety on streets within the CBD. However, a number of proposals being considered will have significant detrimental effect on residents surrounding the CBD.

The highest ranking proposal  (Option 3 – rank 1) is to convert the eastbound traffic lane on Victoria Avenue to a bus lane (buses, taxis, motorcycles, bicycles allowed) between Anderson St and Archer St.

Such a proposal ha significant implication for West Ward drivers. This route is used by drivers exiting Fullers Rd and heading Chatswood Chase or Penshurst St (to reach the city) and the East Chatswood Industrial Area including access to Bunnings, Pet Barn, the Good Guys, Repco and North Shore Timber. If Victoria Ave east is closed to general traffic it is likely that drivers will create an ‘informal Northern Bypass Rd’ using the ‘flower’ streets, predominantly Daisy Street, trying to make both left and right turns. It should also be noted that the Council Officer’s report recommends against progressing consideration of a Northern ByPass Road around the CBD.

Option 12 – rank 23 also specifically impacts on Fullers Rd drivers. The proposal is to close eastbound movements from the Pacific Highway and Fullers Rd into Help Street. This means that only left or right turns onto the Highway would be allowed from Fullers Rd. This option is ranked toward the end of the list of options being considered.

Option 13 – rank 25 proposes to restrict Centennial Avenue to left in/left out only. However, there are two sub-options:

1. Make Oliver Rd two-way and provide a full movements intersection at the Highway and Oliver Rd. This option would mean that to make a right onto the Highway you would need first to make a right from Centennial Ave into Whitton Rd across traffic turning left from the Highway into Centennial Rd.

2. Create a one way loop: this would allow right turns from the Highway into Centennial Ave. Cars seeking to get onto the Highway would use Oliver and Whitton as above.

Option 13 ranks last in the Officer’s Report.

Options 14 & 15 rank 18 consider the creation of a CBD Northern Bypass Road. However these options are ranked quite low by the Council Officers.

There other proposals being considered. These include:

Option 2 rank 9: Reallocate turn lanes and provide a right turn lane in Endeavour St on the approach to Anderson St.

Option 4 – rank 7: Convert kerbside parking on the northern side of Victoria Avenue to a taxi zone.

Option 5 – rank 3: Ban the right turn from Endeavour St to Anderson Street (except for bus and taxi).

Option 6 – rank 9: Provide non-invasive fencing on the southern side of Victoria Avenue between Anderson St and Archer St.

Option 8 rank 7: Increase the length of the right turn lane from Albert Ave into Archer St.

Option 9 – rank 15: Change lane allocation and add right turning land from Albert Ave to Archer St (north).

Option 11 – rank 18: Widen the Archer St approach to Boundary St.

Option 16 – rank 2: Review and revise Transport Interchange Infrastructure.

There has been considerable community comments about the operation of the Transport Interchange. A review of operations as outlined is long overdue and supported. Our Local State Member who is also the Minister of Transport should be continually lobbied on this matter.

Option 17 – rank 17: Increase the length of the right turn lane from Albert Ave to Victor St (southbound).

Option 18 – rank 14: Widen the westbound Albert Avenue approach to the Pacific Highway,

This option is wholeheartedly supported. RMS needs to be continually lobbied for funding.

Option 20 – 12: Close Orchard Rd south of Albert Avenue.

This option would have significant impact on drivers heading for Centennial Avenue and Fullers Rd from Orchard Rd. Orchard Rs provides a key link from traffic progressing north from Artarmon or Willoughby Rd. If Orchard Rd was closed as proposed, traffic wanting to turn left onto Albert Avenue would need to turn right into Johnson, left into Victor than left into Albert. This would have the flow on impact of restricting traffic proceeding north in Victor  St wishing to cross Albert.

Students from Mowbray Public School recently participated in the Walk Safely to School Day. Students from the school formed three ‘walking buses’ – a group of students with an adult who walk from their homes to school. Over 300 students were involved. Students from the school have been participating in the ‘walking bus’ scheme for many years.