Oxford St businesses share concerns over cycleway with Liberal senator Andrew Bragg

Residents and business owners on either side of Oxford St are battling to avoid being saddled with the so-called “missing link” in Sydney’s bike network.

NSW Senator, Andrew Bragg. Photo. Luis Enrique Ascui.

Pressure is mounting on the fraught next steps for the Oxford St cycleway, as family businesses claim their fears have been “ignored” by City of Sydney mayor Clover Moore.

Small business owners said they believed an independent study would reveal the existing pop-up cycleway at Moore Park was a superior location for a permanent bike path, but that the City of Sydney had already determined it should be built on Oxford St.

Ms Moore said as recently as Monday she was determined to “accelerate” plans to get the Oxford St cycleway project built.

Business owners gathered on Thursday night for an event chaired by NSW Liberal senator and eastern suburbs resident Andrew Bragg, the most recent in a flood of meetings following the revelations of the Oxford St cycleway plans.

The former Liberal state government awarded the funding for the cycleway to the City Of Sydney as part of a $77m investment in projects for walkways and bike paths.

Rendering of part of the Oxford St Cycleway that will begin construction this year. Picture: City of Sydney.

OPUS co-owner Irene Tourgelis, who runs an Oxford St gift shop which has operated for 50 years with her brother Chris Tourgelis, said business owners felt their concerns about the timing of construction, congestion and the loss of parking had not been properly considered.

“There’s been no consultation with the businesses whatsoever,” Ms Tourgelis said.

NSW Senator Andrew Bragg. The former Liberal NSW Government invested $77m into walkways and cycleways. Photo. Luis Enrique Ascui.

Her brother Chris accepted the bike lane may be constructed despite opposition, but said it must have a minimum impact on the shopping village still financially recovering from pandemic lockdowns.

“The bike lane situation, for me, is something we’ll get used to maybe one day,” he said.

“But that 12 months or whatever it’s going to be of construction, is really challenging at this time.”

Venustus beauty salon owner Jeannie Bourke said Oxford St was “already at capacity”, with customers and employees citing parking as the top barrier to access the shopping village.

“Everyone I speak to who is leasing is saying they will try to get out of their leases” if the project goes ahead, Ms Bourke said.

Co-owner of OPUS gift store Chris Tourgelis believes the best location for a permanent cycleway is near Moore Park. Picture: Chris Pavlich.

Mr Tourgelis said there was “no pressing need” for the Oxford St cycleway while the Moore Park pop-up was serving cyclists.

“We do have an active bike lane, it’s just over the road. It’s not like we don’t have the facilities there,” he said.

Mr Bragg. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore pictured. Picture: Sam Ruttyn.

Mr Bragg said he organised the forum – also attended by Liberal Woollahra councillor Sarah Swan – after joining national Liberal Party’s deputy leader Sussan Ley on a walking tour of Paddington.

“It was a major issue raised by small businesses,” Mr Bragg said.

He said he would look into how he could represent the interests of small business to state ministers.

“It’s very obvious this has been a shambolic process,” he said.

The pop-up cycleway on Moore Park Road in Sydney was constructed in mid-2020. Picture: Richard Dobson.

“There’s a whole lot of problems there. I don’t think the state representatives are doing a good job representing the interests of Paddington.

“Clover Moore is driving this issue. Let’s just call a spade a spade,” Mr Bragg said.

Ms Moore told the council this week the new Transport Minister Jo Haylen had told her she would try to “accelerate” the Oxford St project.

The two-way cycleway along Oxford St, between Paddington Gates and Taylor Square – currently proceeding through Transport for NSW – would see four lanes of traffic slashed to two.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, a temporary pop-up cycleway was built between Centennial Park and Anzac Pde, however residents, and stakeholders including Rugby Australia’s chief financial officer Richard Gardham, have overwhelmingly opposed any plans for it to remain long-term.

City of Sydney voted on Monday to keep the Moore Park pop-up cycleway in place until May 2026, or until the Oxford St project was built.

Transport for NSW is engaging with the community before a design is finalised.