Northern beaches: Call to reclaim the streets... and carparks to help businesses
Ideas to help businesses include closing busy roads to cars to allow for outdoor dining, including South Steyne in Manly, The Strand in Dee Why and Bungan St in Mona Vale and turning the car park in Terrey Hills into a piazza. What do you think?
Manly
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Roads and carparks could be reclaimed by the people to allow for more outdoor dining options for restaurants, with council waiving fees until September.
Residents across the peninsula are being asked to come up with ideas to help businesses and allow for more room for social distancing.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said the council could move expeditiously following consultation with businesses and residents.
Suggestions include closing the roads along the beachfronts at Manly and Dee Why on one or both days of the weekend to allow restaurants more space for outdoor dining.
Others have suggested turning carparks into European style squares.
“We are looking at opening up public spaces, re-engineering or re-tooling them,” Cr Regan said.
“We are looking at what we can do to help small businesses.
“Will closing roads like The Strand in Dee Why to allow for more space for pedestrians and tables and chairs be useful?”
He said the council has also scrapped outdoor dining fees until September, when the freeze will be reviewed.
In replies to his Facebook posts in community groups across the northern beaches, residents have made their own suggestions including:
•Turning the back of the Terrey Hills shops car park into a piazza in the evenings
•Closing Ethel Street In Seaforth to give more outdoor space for Locals Corner, Thai and RSL Bistro
•Making Bungan St in Mona Vale a pedestrian-only area
•Getting rid of the four crossings in Avalon
•Better utilising the space above Stockland Balgowlah
•Expanding into the car park off The Centre Forestville and closing off Darley Street from the car park to Bushland Ave
•Pedestrianising Oaks Ave, Dee Why (nearer the western end)
•Using part of the carpark at Forestway shops
Nick Salerno, owner of Stella Blu in Dee Why and Belrose said he was unsure whether closing The Strand in Dee Why to cars would help his restaurant, even if the council waives its fees.
He said having to cater for people over a larger area would probably mean he would need to employ more staff. But it was something that might be worth a try.
“The restrictions mean we are not viable at the moment but we are open and going through the motions,” he said.
The NSW Government is also offering grants to help make simple changes to public spaces to aid with social distancing and help businesses under its Streets as Shared Spaces grants.
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