Manly town centre: Council to vote on plan to change the look of the CBD to attract more visitors
The fate of a detailed plan to revitalise the Manly town centre, in an effort to attract more visitors and make it more liveable for locals, is set to be decided.
Manly
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The future of a detailed blueprint to make the Manly town centre more attractive to visitors – and more liveable for locals – is set to be decided by Northern Beaches Council.
“Key” locations in the seaside suburb, including The Corso, would be updated and redesigned as part of the “My Place: Manly” plan” in an effort to revitalise the popular tourist hub.
It will focus on enhancing the “night-time economy” in the wake of Covid, making the most of the Manly CBD’s historic laneways and arcades as well as creating special “gateway” areas for visitors.
It suggested that a trial of late trading hours, from 10pm to 6am, be allowed for some restaurants and bars, but not include Manly’s pubs.
Four “key places” identified in the document are The Corso, Sydney Rd, Pittwater Rd and the Laneways — Market Place, Rialto Lane, Henrietta Lane, Central Ave and Short St.
In the foreword to the plan, to be voted on at Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mayor Sue Heins wrote that it aimed to “capture the things people love and value most about the area”.
It was drawn up after consultation with the Manly Business Chamber, Youth Advisory Group, resident associations, businesses and Manly Ward councillors.
The plan — developed by council staff to “guide how we want Manly to evolve in the future” — attracted 625 responses from the public when it went on exhibition late last year.
Public feedback showed “strong support” for improved event and cultural events and outdoor dining, improved streetscapes, increased green spaces and tree canopy and a bike hub.
There were also concerns with the impact of increased night-time noise on residents and reduced car access and a reduction in street parking.
Council staff have confirmed that the plan would not lead to an increase in homes or more floor space for businesses.
The plan pointed out that in 2022-23, $337 million was spent in Manly between 6pm to 6am, on eating and drinking, entertainment, and night-life and 27 per cent of all jobs in the Manly CBD are associated with this night-time economy.
The draft plan pointed out that 2.8 million people visited Manly in pre-Covid 2019.
Details of the plan included allowing outdoor dining on The Corso along with more trees to provide shade and an all-weather performance space at its eastern end, near the ocean beach.
The western end of the The Corso, around Manly Town Hall, would become “Manly’s cultural home where visitors can … rush to theatres, cinemas and music venues”.
An “eat street character” would be created around the intersection of Sydney Rd and Belgrave St.
A redesign of a section of Pittwater Rd would encourage more outdoor dining and could include a reduced speed limit, safer pedestrian crossings, more trees and the planting of “raingardens”.
Planners would explore the installation of “gateway features” welcoming visitors at Manly Wharf as well as the intersection of Sydney Rd and Belgrave St, and the junction of Pittwater Rd and Carlton St with new large trees and widened footpaths.
Continuous awnings could be erected in Market Place to attract more visitors while the fire stairs outside Manly Library would be removed an a large jacaranda tree planted on its place.
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