Pittwater Life July 2017 Issue

Special Report
News
'Hysteria' driving revolt
Newport resident Peter
Tommerup says
hysteria is affecting the
thinking of residents
groups opposed to the
B-Line terminating at
Newport.
The 79-year-old fears
opposition from people
he says don’t use the bus
service regularly will place
in jeopardy improvements
for those who do use the
service to commute as far
as the city every day of
their working life.
Although retired, Mr
Tommerup says he catches
buses to places outside
Pittwater at least three
times a week. Reaching out
to Pittwater Life, he says he
has urged the government
and its decision-makers to
“put people on the ground
at bus stops to hand
out information leaflets
and consult on their
requirements.
“The people on the
residents groups… they’re
very good, but you have to
question them – they’re all
very old, and they don’t use
the buses,” he said.
“Why should the whole
of Newport be penalised,
and have to get on and off
at Mona Vale to get to the
city?
“I’m afraid if they keep
to their agenda they will
ruin it for those who want
to stop using their cars
and catch buses with better
services. They’ll shoot
themselves in the foot; it
will be a shamozzle.
“The government must
gauge the response from
the people who actually use
the buses – the people who
pay the taxes.”
Mr Tommerup said the
Newport Surf Club was an
obvious terminus point.
“It keeps the buses on
the main road, not on the
backstreets,” he said. “And
the surf club car park is
barely half full during the
week. It makes sense.” – NW
Continued from page 11
minutes. The present frequency
is 30 minutes on weekdays and
15 minutes at weekends. This
represents an unacceptable
reduction in frequency."
PBWBA welcomed the introduction
of the 199 to Manly but
insisted it should not be at the
expense of the L90 service.
(The 199 will operate as a
full-time, all-stops service with
frequency of 30 minutes on
weekdays and every 15 minutes
on weekends between Palm
Beach and Manly via Avalon,
Newport shops, Newport loop,
Mona Vale, Narrabeen, Collaroy,
Dee Why and Warringah Mall.)
Dr West continued: “Northern
Beaches Council together with
the community are currently
working on a parking strategy
for Palm Beach with an emphasis
on encouraging visitors, residents
and tourists to use public
transport, as parking in Palm
Beach is extremely limited.
“The Council and the NSW
Government are spending $1.7
million on building a walkway
from Palm Beach Wharf to
Governor Phillip Park which
will be a major visitor drawcard.
It is essential that the L90
bus service be maintained, not
downgraded.”
Dr West claimed the
proposed changes to the L90
service would make city commutes
even longer in the morning
peak hours, as it would be
necessary to catch the new 199
from Palm Beach and change
to either the E88 at Careel Bay
(where it started) or the B-Line
hub at Newport or Mona Vale.
“On the return journey from
the city in peak hours it will
be necessary to change to the
199… this could involve a halfhour
wait for the bus to come
from Manly. This will make the
longest trip even longer.”
He added the Association
supported the NRA in their opposition
to the “inappropriate
and unacceptable use of the car
park at Newport Beach”.
APA
The APA supports improvements
for a faster, more
comfortable and more reliable
service to the city and to Manly,
with major intermediate stops –
but without the need to change
to another bus.
“Any need to change buses is
unacceptable being disruptive,
12 JULY 2017
Celebrating 25 Years