Terrigal parking plan hated by business and residents
WHEN asked who opposed the new traffic and parking plans for Terrigal — 90 per cent of people at a public meeting raised their hands — here’s why.
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TERRIGAL businesses and residents fear the Central Coast Council’s traffic improvement plans are already a “done deal”.
Around 200 people gathered at the ‘Let’s talk Terrigal’ information sessions on Monday and Wednesday nights to share strong opinions about the proposed traffic improvements and installation of parking sensors across Terrigal.
At Wednesday night’s session, Terrigal newsagency owner Kate Tankard asked the room for a show of hands for how many people directly opposed the plan. More than 90 per cent of the room raised their hands.
Council’s senior manager of roads, transport and drainage Boris Bolgoff said the plan would benefit the business owners and wider community, however acknowledged there were parking concerns.
“We understand that parking and traffic go hand-in-hand,” he said.
The plan in a nutshell
Stage 1 — The “loop” of one way streets could cease, with plans to convert Campbell Crescent, Church St and Kurrawyba Ave to two-way traffic. Vehicles will be unable to turn right onto Kurrawyba Avenue from Terrigal Esplanade and also onto Terrigal Esplanade from Campbell Crescent.
A mountable roundabout is proposed at the Church St, Kurrawyba and Pine Tree Lane intersection, along with signalised pedestrian crossings at the intersection of Campbell Crescent and Terrigal Esplanade.
Council has proposed restricting access to Terrigal Esplanade during peak times, with the exception of buses, emergency vehicles and council services vehicles. Proposed restricted times would be in place between October to April from 6am to 8pm.
Stage 2 — Raising and paving Terrigal Esplanade and a part of Hudson Lane to create a shared zone. It will also improve on-street parking spaces on Ash St.
Design for Stage 1 has been completed, and the council will seek approval from the Local Traffic Committee and Roads and Maritime Services. Enabling works will start this month, with major construction proposed for May/June and works to be completed by November.
Five major concerns
With a raft of concerns raised — and one resident suggesting a monorail for the beachside suburb — here are the five major concerns.
1. Terrigal needs a bigger, broader plan
“There has to be more than this,” a concerned business owner said.
“What more do you have to show us than just some traffic. There has to be some integrative system. There really is no plan apart from traffic. It’s not enough.”
Concerns were raised about developments, including Elysium, being approved for Terrigal with no regard to traffic issues and parking. Many said Terrigal will struggle to handle the growing number of developments.
2. Loss of short term parking
Terrigal real estate agent Rod Pitstock said the restrictions of the traffic flow plan will further limit valuable public car spaces and income for local businesses.
He said the current plan takes 14 parking spaces out of the CBD. There are 28 shops in the main street between Campbell Crescent and Kurrawyba Ave which rely heavily on short term parking.
The Church St carpark was sold by the former Gosford Council, and plans are before the council to redevelop the site into 18 units and two shops.
Council’s unit manager for property development Jamie Barclay said the council was engaging consultants to address short term parking needs, starting in Gosford and working their way to other town centres including Terrigal.
However, Mr Barclay made an announcement that the council had finalised a preferred option of extending the Wilson Rd car park with an additional 600 spaces. He said the plan needed to go through the approval process.
3. Driving people out of Terrigal
Locals said the lack of parking and increased congestion could drive people out of Terrigal.
“Terrigal survives on regular local patronage,” Ms Tankard said. “People are going to avoid the area. This plan sends them out of the area.”
Mr Bolgoff said the project would reduce the queue length on Terrigal Drive from 600m to 140m, and reduce the time from Terrigal Drive to The Haven from 25 minutes to four minutes.
Ms Tankard said the council should trial lights, which can be hired at a reasonable cost, and test if they are planned for the right location.
Owner of Bonne Journee Patisserie Helen Vassiliadis said there was also worry about the parking sensors driving people away. The council are planning to install 270 sensors at the Terrigal Surf Club car park and The Haven.
“If someone checks the app and sees there’s no parking spaces free, they will just go somewhere else,” she said.
4. Pedestrian access from Wilson St car park to the beach
With a roundabout proposed for the intersection of Kurrawyba Ave and Church St, locals say pedestrian safety should be considered with people walking from the Wilson Rd car park to the beach.
There were suggestions for a shuttle service from the car park to Terrigal Esplanade, as well as a barrier for the roundabout to prevent unsafe pedestrian movement.
A suggestion to place a pedestrian crossing on Kurrawyba Ave near the Wilson Rd car park was noted by the council as a possibility.
5. Consultation or dictation?
“Do you have the authority to say that not one thing will be changed until you do a bit more planning, consulting and listening to feedback?” Ms Tankard asked.
Mr Bolgoff said that was why the council was running the sessions. He said there had already been on-site discussions with restaurant owners with changes to be made.
While some people walked out saying “it’s a done deal, we can’t make a difference” others continued to question the council.
“How are you going to take on bringing these people’s suggestions and change it in three weeks? Can you assure us that this is not fait accompli?”
The council has extended the consultation period for a further seven days.
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