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Laurie Lawlor

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    6 comments  ·  General  ·  Admin →
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    Laurie Lawlor commented  · 

    The Manly 2015 proposal issued by Manly Council could have served a useful purpose as an introduction to a more detailed report that explained the full implications of the proposal, with indicative costings. The council went a small part of the way with its traffic impact report, but the consultants were briefed to focus only on central Manly and ignore other areas, particularly Eastern Hill, which is totally dependent on good transit through central Manly. Unfortunately even this analysis was deeply flawed, as I discussed at length in an attachment to the report to Council submitted by the Little Manly Precint.

    Council has used ratepayers money to produce a proposal that is big on thought bubbles and artists impressions, but totally devoid of the detail that residents and businesses need to respond in a constructive manner. Some of the thought bubbles, such as perimeter parking, poor gateway experience, and High Street to balance the Corso, could get good marks in a school project, but are totally inappropriate for a sensible discussion where millions of dollars of ratepayers money are involved.

    What will happen to the streets of Manly when the 400 parking spaces are removed. It is going to be very strange to be driving past what were parking spaces and have to park at the Manly Oval. What is Council planning to do with the 400 spaces. Ratepayers need to know if they are planning to widen footpaths and pedestrianise all of central Manly? By how much, and at what cost?

    High Street is proposed to look like the pedestrian only part of the Corso. Council should be aware of what happened to the Southport Mall in Queensland that was opened to traffic in 1998 after being pedestrian- only for 10 years. Some businesses along Nerang Street lost up to 50% of their business over that period. It appears technical studies of the effects of closing Nerang Street to traffic were only done after the Mall was built and after complaints by local businesses. Manly Council would be well advised not proceed with this thought bubble until comprehensive traffic, business impact and costing studies are concluded.

    Laurie Lawlor
    Consulting Engineer
    Manly

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