The Curl Curl to Freshwater Connectivity and Streetscape Upgrade project has had a long history. Click on the tabs below to learn more about the different design phases of the project, the various stages of community consultation and the development of concept plans.

Since this project began in 2021, three proposed designs have been presented to the community for consideration. The first proposed concept (23 August 2021 – 19 September 2021) was for a shared path. Council received 317 comments. Feedback from this consultation reflected community support for improving walking and cycling connections but suggested Council consider a separated cycleway.

The second proposed concept was for a separated cycleway (17 November 2021 – 15 December 2021). Council received 681 comments demonstrating support for improved connectivity. It was noted that over half the respondents supported one of the three following options being a separated cycleway, a separated cycleway narrowed to retain parking, or a shared path. Feedback also indicated a quarter of respondents did not support any proposal.

Considering the mixed feedback from the community, an updated design was developed to keep parking along both sides of the streets and include a separated cycleway. This was endorsed at the Local Traffic Committee in April 2022, with a change to run the cycleway on the northern side of Bennett Street to improve safety and linkages to existing and future cycleways. A Road Safety Audit (RSA) was undertaken in July 2022 which informed further design improvements. Residents were notified in November 2022 that this design would be progressing to construction.

Work commenced in June 2023 to install this revised design which was placed on hold following community concern.

In June 2023 we listened to the community and paused works to revise the design of the Curl Curl to Freshwater connectivity project. We refined the proposed design for a better whole community outcome.

We then went out to community consultation for a period of five weeks in late 2023. An independent consultant reviewed the feedback and prepared a Community Engagement Report.

The proposed works include:

• On-road two way separated cycleway on the northern side of Bennett Street and eastern side of Oliver Street
• 20km/h safe street environment on Park Street
• Eight new and improved crossings for people walking and bike riding
• One zebra crossing upgraded to a raised pedestrian crossing
• Two new bus stop platforms that will be disability compliant and enable quicker boarding and alighting of bus passengers
• More greenery, including garden beds
• Safer walking routes to local primary schools with over 2,000 households able to walk continuously using marked crossings
• Wider lanes compared to previous proposals plus additional width at the bend of Oliver Street and Bennett Street
• More pavement space for children and families during pick-up and drop-off time outside Harbord Public School on Oliver Street, and
• Wayfinding signage and line marking upgrades.

At the Northern Beaches Local Traffic Committee meeting held on Tuesday 5 April 2022, the committee supported the:

A. Installation the hybrid design of sections of shared user path and separated cycleway along the eastern side of Oliver Street between Freshwater Village and Brighton Street and then onto Park Street on the northern side of Bennett Street

B. Installation of a cycleway priority crossing at the following locations:

a. Shared pedestrian/cycle crossing in Lawrence Street near Dowling Street, Freshwater

b. Shared pedestrian/cycle crossing in Soldiers Avenue

c. Shared pedestrian/cycle crossing in Wyndora Avenue near Jacka Park

d. Shared pedestrian/cycle crossing in Wyuna Avenue

e. Shared pedestrian/cycle crossing in Brighton Street and then across Oliver Street

f. Shared pedestrian/cycle crossing in Bennett Street

C. The installation of the Safe Street zone treatments in Park Street to facilitate the required self-enforcing speed zone requirement for a 20km/h

Read the report and minutes (Item 4.22).

Following conversations with the community, we undertook a Road Safety Audit on the civil design that supported the construction of the cycleway. The community were then advised of the preferred design.

Council then commenced preliminary linemarking works for the Oliver Street cycleway network between Lawrence Street to Robert Street, Freshwater.

The community was advised that future work would commence early January 2023 and would consist of a shared user path and on-road cycleway network, including improved pedestrian facilities at key intersections.

Following August 2021 consultation we exhibited alternative design options for connections on the eastern side of Oliver Street, Freshwater. These were open for comment between 17 November and 15 December 2021. We received 681 comments with feedback indicating a high level of support for an improved cycle connection between Curl Curl and Freshwater.

Response on the best option was mixed. Over half the respondents supported either a separated cycleway, separated cycleway narrowed to retain parking, or shared path. Feedback also reflected a quarter of respondents did not support any proposal. Detailed feedback and outcomes from this second round of engagement are available in the Community and Stakeholder Engagement Report.

In 2021 we engaged with the community on a cycleway between Lawrence Street, Freshwater and Bennett Street, Curl Curl to improve connections within the cycling network. Three options were presented for consideration and we noted that we were proceeding with option 1B. This design was approved at the Local Traffic Committee held on 5 April 2022 and a Road Safety Audit was undertaken.

During August and September 2021 we asked for comments in relation to a shared path proposal. The concept plan for a new (2.5m wide) shared path along Oliver Street in Freshwater, and Bennett Street and Park Street in Curl Curl was open for comment between 23 August and 19 September 2021 and received 317 comments.

Feedback during that consultation strongly reflected community support for improving walking and cycling connections along the proposed route, however suggested we consider a separated cycleway. View the engagement outcomes from the first stage of engagement here.