Waverton: drive-through Covid testing hub rejected over traffic, open space concerns
A plan to turn a popular north shore reserve into a new drive-through Covid testing facility has been sunk due to concerns over impacts on traffic congestion and “privatisation” of open space.
NSW
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A plan to turn a popular north shore reserve into a new drive-through Covid testing facility has been sunk due to concerns over impacts on traffic congestion and “privatisation” of open space.
North Sydney councillors have knocked back a NSW Health request to create the council area’s first drive-through PCR testing facility at Balls Head Reserve in Waverton.
The clinic was proposed to be operated by Australian Clinical Labs and would have included a hardstand area, marquee and storage facilities for equipment and samples.
Despite the advent of rapid antigen tests slashing demand for PCR testing, NSW Health is still planning additional drive-through clinics in preparation for winter along with potential new Covid variants, relaxed government restrictions and increased case numbers.
But in a unanimous vote, councillors voted to reject the proposal and instead work with NSW Health to find another location such as a public car park.
North Sydney councillor Maryann Beregi said a testing site at Balls Head could result in open space at the headland being privatised.
“I support having another Covid testing facility and we’re going to need them – the issue is this is in a really inappropriate location,” she said.
“We already don’t have enough public open space and this is now asking for this to be handed over to a private operator.
“The idea is that people stay in their cars so we have to be realistic that this will cause a traffic nightmare. Residents won’t be able to access their homes.”
A council report showed NSW Health has been working on the proposal since December with an aim of running the facility seven days a week for an initial three-month period.
The council area currently does not have a drive through testing facility – meaning residents have to travel to other locations such as Willoughby Leisure Centre or St Ives Showground.
Waverton resident Ian Gray supported the council’s decision due to potential traffic impacts on the peninsula.
“The problem is road access is really tight and it’s also a major area for people walking and cycling and it wouldn’t take much for cars to back up and block access for the Coal Loader or potentially even access to the navy base,” he said.
“The reserve is the major outlet for the suburb, there are a lot of units nearby and people are pouring out in the morning and they all head to the headland and the Coal Loader to exercise or walk the dog.”
NSW Health had also considered alternative locations including Young St, Cremorne however this was ruled out due to site constraints.
North Sydney mayor Zoe Baker said finding an alternative drive-through site could prove challenging in the local government area.
“There was probably a reason during the first round of Covid we didn’t have a testing facility in the LGA because we don’t meet the criteria – we’re densely populated and we don’t have enough open space for the existing population,” she said.
“During the pandemic those public open spaces were a lifeline for people and are still highly used.”
Latest NSW Health data shows rapid antigen tests are continuing to be the most widely used testing method in NSW.
In the last week, 36.5 per cent of positive tests were recorded by PCR tests compared to 63.5 per cent via RATs.
A North Sydney Council spokeswoman said the council was not aware whether NSW Health was interested in any other site in the council area.
NSW Health was contacted for further comment but did not respond at the time of publication.
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Originally published as Waverton: drive-through Covid testing hub rejected over traffic, open space concerns
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