• How is the project funded?

• This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with Northern Beaches Council.

• Why was this part of North Balgowlah chosen?

• This area has a history of vehicle crash data, includes North Balgowlah Shops, Barangaroo Street shops and helps to reduce cut-through traffic through the suburb (between Wakehurst Parkway and the Burnt Bridge Creek bridge).
  

  As part of the safer neighbourhoods program, Council is proposing to deliver this as well as other staged traffic improvements for the North Balgowlah precinct in the coming years.
  

• Are other areas currently proposed for the Safer Neighbourhoods Program?

• Yes, the Safer Neighbourhoods Program is being proposed in a number of local traffic areas across the Northern Beaches LGA.

• Why are you proposing raised pedestrian crossings?

• Raised crossings are more visible to motorists. They provide an opportunity for people to cross a street safely, making pedestrians more visible to drivers and reduce vehicle speed at the conflict point.

  The treatment clearly indicates pedestrian priority, increasing accessibility for elderly, children, or people with a disability.

• Would there be a loss of parking?

• To ensure safer intersections and adequate sight lines, there will be a reduction of 29 parking spaces immediately around the new pedestrian crossings as per statutory requirements. Council will look to minimise the parking loss through design, where possible.
  

• How would my travel time be impacted?

• Speed limits are a small factor in what determines your total travel time in local streets and neighbourhoods. Travel times are mostly influenced by traffic volumes and frequent stopping at intersections and traffic lights.

  Appropriate speed zones reduce the likelihood of crashes. Fewer crashes ease traffic delays and lower emissions.
  

• ​What is the process of implementing a new speed limit?
• As Transport for NSW is responsible for amending speed limits on NSW road, Council will write to Transport for NSW to seek approval for a 40km/h high pedestrian activity area in the North Balgowlah precinct, including all relevant signage and line marking.
• Are speed cameras an option to manage speeds?

• The installation of speed cameras is not an option that is available to Council to manage speed.

  Speed cameras can only be installed by TfNSW and tend to be located in locations where traffic volumes are high, compliance with applicable speeds is low and crash rates high. Fixed speed cameras would rarely be installed on local roads with self enforcing measures such as roundabouts, speed humps or other forms of physical traffic management devices, viewed as more appropriate on local roads.

• Why isn’t Council considering introducing a resident parking scheme given the parking issues in the area?

• There are TfNSW guidelines which govern the introduction of resident parking schemes and Council is obliged to follow them.

  The purpose of a resident parking scheme is not to make parking on a street available for residents only but to make it easier for residents who cannot park offstreet to find parking on-street.

  Resident parking permits are only issued for vehicles which cannot be parked offstreet. As most homes within the North Balgowlah area have offstreet parking for their vehicles most residents would be ineligible for permits and Council is not considering introducing such a scheme.

Project timeline and construction

• When would construction begin?

• Works are expected to start in mid-2025 and be completed by summer, weather permitting.

• What could be the potential impacts during construction?

• We understand the difficulty of completing work without causing disruptions, especially during bad weather. We would work closely with the contractors to minimise temporary impacts on traffic, pedestrians, noise, and dust.

  To minimise traffic impacts during the day, some operations may be scheduled for nighttime. We would notify our neighbours before night work takes place.

  Residents on the affected streets would receive direct communication from the contractors with additional details prior to the commencement of any work.