Protesters in show of defiance over proposal to extend B-Line service
ANGRY anti-B-Line residents took their fight to the streets of Newport at the weekend over fears the new bus service could lead to increased housing density and traffic chaos.
Manly
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ANGRY anti-B-Line residents took their fight to the streets of Newport at the weekend over fears the new bus service could lead to increased housing density and traffic chaos.
Hundreds of people, including many wielding placards, gathered in the surf club carpark on Sunday.
Transport for NSW wants to extend the B-Line, originally targeted to stop at Mona Vale, to Newport.
The plan is to build a roundabout at the intersection of Barrenjoey Rd and Neptune St, so northbound buses can turn to head south.
But Peter Middleton, of the Newport Residents Association, said the only reason the B-Line was being extended north from Mona Vale was because Transport for NSW could not find enough parking spaces at Mona Vale to fill its quota, so it found them at Newport.
At one point, the protesters stood on Barrenjoey Rd to highlight the chaos they claim will happen if the extension goes ahead.
The village atmosphere in Newport would be under threat, it was claimed, and the carpark behind the surf club would be reduced to a park-and-ride facility.
“This is an ad hoc solution for politicians’ problems – not the people’s problems,” Mr Middleton said.
Last week, Pittwater MP Rob Stokes asked protesters to not reject the proposal out of hand.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve public transport, so I would encourage them to have an open mind,” he said.
“There won’t be another government looking at spending $500 million on transport for the beaches.”
Yesterday he said people had asked for the B-Line to be extended from Mona Vale to Newport.
“But if the preponderance of views is that people don’t want it, that will have to be considered,” he said.
Former Pittwater councillor Selena Griffith said Barrenjoey Rd at Newport was already a bottleneck. She said creating a roundabout at Neptune St would eat into the surf club carpark.
“With it being a terminus, there could also be a facility for drivers there,” she said.
“All the other B-Line stops are having commuter parking attached, so there could be a carpark here but we don’t want that.”
Ms Griffith also flagged the risk of more housing density in a high-rise-free area.
“Everyone fears it’s a precursor for a push for greater density along the B-Line route,” she said.
“We’re already hearing that sort of thing from the Greater Sydney Commission.
“Everyone wants better public transport but it needs to be best practice, done in consultation with the community, and also reflect the needs of the community.
“Another major issue is the changes to services to suburbs north of Newport and the fact we’re losing so many of them.”
Echoing Ms Griffith’s concerns about services north of Newport, Avalon Preservation Association president Peter Mayman said whether the B-Line finished at Newport or Mona Vale, services further north would be reduced either way.
“We have four services an hour to the city from Palm Beach and Avalon during off-peak periods but that will be reduced to one,” he said.
“There will be four services an hour from Palm to Manly, so we will have to change buses further south to get on a B-Line bus to get to the city.
“We’re used to having a through-bus but this will mean changing buses.”
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