Woollahra Mayor Richard Shields signals opposition to Oxford St East cycleway

A newly elected eastern suburbs mayor has signalled his preference for alternative routes for a cycleway set to link the eastern suburbs to Sydney’s CBD.

Picture: Julian Andrews.

The newly-elected mayor of an eastern suburbs council has doubled down on his belief the last stretch of a cycleway linking Sydney’s eastern suburbs to the city should not be on Oxford St.

Woollahra Mayor Richard Shields shared his opinion the cycleway would be better suited to Moore Park Rd, where a pop-up cycleway was erected in 2020.

While Woollahra Council formally resolved to give in-principle support for the strategic design for the Oxford St East cycleway in March, Mr Shields voted against the proposal in its current form when it came before the council in August.

In correspondence seen by this publication, the mayor stated his “preference” would be to use the Moore Park Road option.

A recent artist impression of the Oxford St East Cycleway. Picture: TfNSW.

“In my opinion, it would be disruptive to small businesses and road users,” Mr Shields wrote.

The most recent council meeting that addressed the issue saw six councillors oppose a motion to continue the council’s in-principle support and advocate for more funding to expand the project beyond changes to the street with upgrades to the streetscapes.

Woollahra Mayor Richard Shields. Picture: supplied.

Plans for a two-way cycleway along Oxford St, between Paddington Gates and Taylor Square, will come at a cost to motorists with the existing four lanes of traffic to be reduced to two.

The proposed infrastructure is aimed at rejuvenating Oxford St, through improving its amenity, safety for cyclists and reducing congestion and noise.

The proposed cycleway would halve the number of traffic lanes between Paddington Gates and Taylor Square. Picture: Julian Andrews.

But three years after the plans were first raised no design has been approved and community backlash has led to delays and another round of consultation with businesses and residents.

A spokeswoman for Transport for NSW, which is delivering the project, said it was “carefully considering feedback” following a second round of community consultation on the proposed Oxford Street East cycleway.

Woollahra Council is not able to consider the proposal again for three months after the most recent vote according to its code of meeting practice.

The City of Sydney – which is in support of the Oxford St East project – has begun construction on the Oxford Street west project between Taylor Square and Castlereagh Street, with works expected to be completed in late 2024.