Council is seeking a Special Rate Variation (SRV) in an attempt to address decades of neglect of its physical assets such as stormwater drains, some sportsgrounds, buildings and bridges. Over the next 5 years, Council officers have identified over $17 Million of critical maintenance projects.

Council has presented two scenarios for consideration.

Option 1 – No change to rates, would see a reduction in services (such as libraries, leisure and community centres and further deterioration of physical assets.

The SRV option 2 plans to raise the money to cover the identified $17M deficit.

What Council has done poorly in arguing the case for a SRV is clearly identifying on what and where the money raised will be spent. For instance:

There is $1.6M needed for sportsgrounds. Of this, 50% is for a single ground (Wills Tennis Courts). There is only one small project in West Ward, $80K to convert the Chatswood High School courts to a multi-use surface.

There is over $3M slated to maintain parks. West Ward would receive a paltry $100K for the Rotary athletic field.

Around $8M is projected for Buildings.This includes significant funds for buildings at Chatswood Oval and the Dougherty Centre, although it can be argued that these are ‘city-wide’ projects rather than relating to West Ward specifically.

Monies for footpaths, Kerb & Gutter, Bridges and stormwater are not broken down by project.

When the CBD projects are excluded there is only around $400K of projects within the West Ward.

Why would a WestWarder vote in favour of the Special Rate Variation based on the current list of proposed works?

The Land & Environment Court has handed down its decision on the Meriton site in Albert Ave (the old Thomas St Carpark). The site was originally purchased by Meriton for $50M. It came with an approval for two primarily residential towers of  29 and 23 storeys. Meriton lodged a new Planning Proposal seeking approval for  47 and 37 storeys. The application went in front of the NSW Department of Planning who suggested heights in between might be appropriate. The Department referred the matter to the Planning Assessment Committee (PAC). The PAC found that the new Planning Proposal lacked merit and refused the application. Meriton then appealed to the court.

The Court has approved a modified application of  twin towers of 33 and 38 storeys on the Thomas Street car park site.

Continuing to my Dec 17th email to you Mrs .Berejiklian, I noticed in the last week RTA workers have been “narrowing”

 Mowbray Road between Dalrymple Avenue and Pacific Highway.

We sincerely hope so.

Changes are planned for February to allow minor renovations to proceed without the need for specific approval. Things like garage doors, driveways and fences will be covered.. Neighbours will need to be told 14 days before for some types of development.

The Pacific Highway at Chatswood has jumped to the top of the list of worst crash locations in NSW with 135 crashes and bingles in the year to September 2013, (based on insurance claims lodged with AAMI Insurance).

Locals will tell you that the new statistic just tells what we already knew.

One of the biggest problem locations is the intersection of the Highway with Albert Avenue and Centennial Avenue. This has been a problem location for years. Cars turning right onto the Highway from Albert Avenue frequently ignore the red light at Centennial Ave, driving into the intersection when vehicles turning right from Centennial Avenue are exiting.

Another problem is the fact at certain times of the day lanes in opposite direction are directly facing each other. At similar locations in the city, such as at Neutral Bay, there are in-road guidance lights and overhead lane lights.

The Pacific Highway is under the care and control of the State Government under the jurisdiction of the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). Locals have been lobbying the Local Member (Ms Berijiklian) for years in regard to this problem. It is well behind the time that action is taken to resolve these problems.

The following response to the Beaconsfield lights petition was received from Willoughby Council:

Dear petitioners,

Thank you for your petition calling for the lifting of the left turn ban for traffic exiting Beaconsfield Road to Mowbray Road West. The petition was considered at the Council meeting on 9 December and has been referred to Council’s Infrastructure Services Division for action.

Council has received a number of submissions from residents concerning the recently introduced traffic signals at the intersection of Mowbray Road and Beaconsfield Road. It should be noted that the introduction of the traffic signals has had a long history dating back to before the introduction of the Lane Cove Tunnel. Council ultimately resolved to support the installation of the signals and specifically supported an option which banned the right turn out of Beaconsfield Road and which prevented the cross traffic movements to and from Ralston Street. This decision was made following a public meeting on 8 February 2012. All residents in the area bounded by Mowbray Road, Greenlands Rd, Goodchap Rd and Swaines Creek/Eddy Rd were invited to that meeting and feedback received at that meeting together with related petitions and other submissions received helped Council determine its stance.

While supporting the installation of the signals Council has also resolved that monitoring of traffic conditions take place after the signals have been installed. This monitoring has commenced.  Once the traffic monitoring has been completed staff will prepare a summary report on the traffic changes which have arisen following introduction of the signals and make recommendations to Council in regard to modifications which might be required to address any traffic concerns. In reporting to Council, issues which have been raised by residents in regard to the operation of the signals will be summarised for the elected Councillor’s information, this will include a summary of comments made in the petition.

It must also be noted that any traffic signal controlled intersection is under the control and management of the of Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) and as such Council can only make submissions to RMS seeking changes to the operation of the signals rather than making those changes ourselves. Should Council consider that modifications to the signals might be beneficial it is likely that consultation will take place with residents before approaches are made to RMS.

Regards

James  Brocklebank. Group Leader, Traffic & Transport

Willoughby City Council

Willoughby Council is currently consulting on a proposed Special Rate Variation (SRV). A SRV will mean an increase in rates to fund the maintenance and replacement of Willoughby’s enormous infrastructure network.

The reason Council is considering applying to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a SRV is that Council’s Long Term Financial Plan has identified that more funds are required to maintain assets and services to the level expected by the community, while at the same time ensuring Council’s financial sustainability.

You can read the cases FOR and AGAINST the Special Rate
Make sure to read the second page of the brochure.

The installation of the pedestrian refuges on Mowbray Road is not related to the traffic works proposed as a result of the rezoning on the Lane Cove side of Mowbray Road. The pedestrian refuges are part of the package of works which were tied to the Local Area Improvement Plan for Mowbray prepared in conjunction with the Lane Cove Tunnel project. The pedestrian refuges were the subject of widespread community consultation at the time

the Local Area Improvement Plan was prepared. The installation of the refuges has been approved by both Council through the Local Traffic Committees and installation has always been tied to the completion of the traffic signals at Mowbray Road and Beaconsfield Road. Now that those signals are installed there was no impediment to installation of the refuges which have been long awaited by Willoughby Council. The refuge work is being managed by Lane Cove council and funded by RMS.

The refuges do not conflict with the proposed traffic control measures linked to the Rezoning work. An exception to this was the refuge proposed near Hatfield St which is not being installed at this time given that the intersection is proposed to become a signalised intersection with pedestrian phases over Mowbray Road.

Council has not yet determined its position in regard to the traffic measures proposed in conjunction with the Mowbray Road rezoning. To assist Council in determining its stance we are currently in the process of engaging a traffic consultant to assist us with the following.

• review of the works proposed by Lane Cove for the efficacy and impact on Willoughby residents
• review traffic counts data (volume, speed, direction and turning movements) in Coolaroo, Felton, Hart, Dalrymple,  in addition to the intersections outlined in the Lane Cove Council report.
• Analyse crash histories in the subject streets
• Prepare recommendations for changes to proposed works or for additional works for this precinct
• Submit a draft report for review.

Once this is complete we propose to commence an engagement process that seeks community feedback on the proposed changes and consideration of our findings of the above work. We will ensure that every household in the area is notified and would be prepared to attend a West Ward Progress Association meeting to present both the Lane Cove Study and our response to it. Both documents would be available for review by the community.

Feedback from the community will be considered and included in a report to Council, via the Willoughby Traffic Committee that will allow Council to adopt a position on the matter.

The public consultation regarding proposed changes to Council’s Plan of Management in relation to the Council-owned portion of Chatswood Golf Club has now been completed. The plan is now recommended for approval. There were 22 submissions on the plan. 

NEW SPORTS OVALS (?): Two submissions argued for not renewing the lease but to develop the land as a sports oval. This proposal was not supported by Council officers.

RAIL TO RIVER WALK: A portion of the planned Rail to River Walk needs to cross Golf Club private property. The Golf Club and Council are currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding in relation to this matter. It is proposed that the Memorandum will be finalised prior to enacting the new lease.

PUBLIC ACCESS ACROSS COURSE: Council is working with the Club to ensure appropriate public access across the course. This might require the redesign of parts of the course.