Kirribilli’s jacaranda tree street set for traffic crackdown

The purple jacaranda trees of Kirribilli have proven to be a hit with tourists, Instagrammers and social media influencers. However, plans to keep the crowds of visitors safe have left residents seeing red.

An influx of tourists blocking Kirribilli streets to snap photos of the suburb’s purple jacaranda trees has prompted a traffic management crackdown which has left some locals seeing red.

Residents are calling on North Sydney Council to rethink rolling out new vehicle management signs in suburban streets aimed at controlling the anticipated crowds for this year’s peak jacaranda season.

Each year, Kirribilli becomes a magnet for tourists, Instagrammers and social media influencers filling roads and footpaths to photograph and gaze at purple haze during the six week blooming season.

The council’s traffic management plan includes setting up large electric signs in carparking spaces which will carry flashing messages encouraging motorists to “watch out for pedestrians” and warnings to “slow down”.

The council is also proposing to turn McDougall St into one-way traffic during the blooming season, placing stickers on footpaths encouraging pedestrians to “take care, be car aware” and installing three portaloos for visitors.

The signs have been previously trialled by the council including pictured here in 2019.

Feedback from residents on the plan has heard multiple concerns over loss of carparking spaces which will be used to accommodate the traffic signs.

One submission said the signs would be “ineffective” while others claimed the flashing warning notices would be an “ugly” addition to the suburb.

McDougall St is a magnet for jacaranda enthusiasts.

Resident and personal trainer Alexander Drescher, who lives on McDougall St, believes the signs could cause more headaches than they are trying to address.

“When the jacarandas are flowering it’s kind of a mess because the people who come to see the trees don’t see the traffic and it makes it tricky for drivers,” he said.

“People lie down on the road to watch the trees and cars have to either wait or drive around them. Some of the groups that come walk all over the shop and I don’t know if it’s a question of awareness but ignorance.

“If you haven’t learned by the age of 40 you shouldn’t lie on the ground in the middle of road then having a flashing sign isn’t going to make much difference.

Crowds of visitors often fill roads during the blooming season.

“The parking situation is always pressured – taking out the spaces for signs will have an impact on everyone but the residents will feel it the most.”

Feedback from locals also included calls for the flashing signs to be directed at the behaviour of visitors and pedestrians, rather than motorists.

There are also concerns the footpaths stickers could be “distracting” or “slippery” for pedestrians.

Plans by the council show the traffic signs would be set up on McDougall St and could not be located on the footpath due to their size.

“Therefore they must be located on the road, in the parking area. This means the temporary loss of two parking spaces during the period,” a council report stated.

North Sydney councillor and Kirribilli resident Jilly Gibson supported the traffic measures, saying they could stop potential accidents from occurring.

“I think safety is paramount in this situation – having big flashing signs are unattractive and they do take up parking spots but it’s only for a short period,” she said.

“They are effective and we should be celebrating the joy of jacaranda season instead of the constant negatively about it.”

North Sydney Council estimates the cost of the management plan will tally $6000 over the six-week period.