Find out what's happening
Overview
The Northern Beaches Coast Walk is a spectacular 36km coastal journey connecting Manly to Palm Beach. Since 2018, we've been working closely with our community to enhance sections of this scenic pathway between Newport and Avalon.
After detailed investigations and community feedback, we're focusing on three priority sections based on available funding and safety considerations:
- Newport Beach to The Serpentine: New shared pathway
- Bilgola Foreshore Link: Enhanced pedestrian access from Bilgola carpark to Allen Avenue
- The Serpentine Safety Upgrade: Improved pedestrian connection at Allen Avenue stairs
Additional funding opportunities will be sought in order to complete the wider program of works in future years.
Council endorses plan to proceed
We presented a comprehensive report to Council on 12 November 2024. The report included the tender evaluation for the design and construction of the Newport Beach to The Serpentine, Bilgola Beach shared user path, along with engagement activities since 2018.
Council endorsed accepting a tender for detailed design and construction.
We expect to share these plans with you early next year.
A Review of Environmental Factors has been completed to assess and mitigate potential environmental impacts.
Previous Consultation
Our most recent community consultation in 2020 covered three distinct sections. For details on past engagement activities, please see the engagement history outlined below.
Map of prioritised works
The community feedback collected during public consultation of Section 1 between 23 October and 6 December 2020 revealed a general level of support for the proposed shared path, with comments citing the anticipated benefits of improved access and safety.
There were some clear and consistent themes evident from respondents regarding the use of proposed materials. In particular, the proposed use of concrete barriers and the negative impacts this could have on the environment, aesthetics of the area and driver experience.
We received a strong level of support to improve the draft design with opportunities to integrate the new path with the surrounding environment specifically highlighted. The detailed design will be adjusted based on this community feedback.
We engaged the community between 23 October and 22 November 2020 on Section 2 of the coastal walk and trialed a walking and cycling-friendly link for 12 months. Over half the respondents were not supportive of the shared space project, citing the reduced speed limit of 10km would not reduce safety impacts and most felt they would be heavily inconvenienced by additional travel times.
Those respondents who supported the shared zone with changes, indicated that 10km was too slow for vehicles, and suggested raising the speed limit to 20km or 30km.
Respondents who were in favour of the shared zone also indicated that the 10km limit is too slow but they overall supported the proposal. They also noted that the changes would improve pedestrian safety, promote active travel and encourage more, and safer cycling.
Community feedback received as part of Section 3 between 3 October and 6 December 2020 indicated concerns that the proposed shared path would increase risk to pedestrian safety based on a mixture of gradient, typography and potential impacts to driveway access. Questions were received regarding how many people would utilise the proposed path given the gradients were perceived to be inaccessible.
Although there was not a high level of direct support for the exhibited shared path design, most respondents did feel that pedestrian access and safety should be improved through this section, however indicated that this could be achieved through pedestrian footpaths only. Safety improvements have been incorporated into the detailed design for this section of work based on this community feedback.
Local resident groups also identified ongoing safety concerns with the Avalon Headland carpark and requested that this aspect of the original proposal be reconsidered in the hopes to address vehicle and pedestrian safety at the Headland, while still maintaining the coastal viewpoints. We are no longer proceeding with formalisation of the South Avalon Headland Carpark or the concrete path along the eastern edge of the carpark.
