Pittwater Life November 2020 Issue

News
SEEN…
The bumper-to-bumper traffic negotiating the slog to work
down Pittwater Road south of Narrabeen, after problem child
the Wakehurst Parkway was closed both ways due to flooding
that accompanied Sydney’s big, big wet in late October. The
closures came days after the Parkway was thrust into the
media spotlight again with reports Transport for NSW had
reaffirmed its current position to not upgrade the troublesome
carriageway from two lanes to four lanes from Narrabeen to
Frenchs Forest. The road conveys more than 10,000 vehicles
each day. The latest closures due to flooding give further voice
to locals’ calls to upgrade the Parkway to ensure better access
to Northern Beaches Hospital – especially when the alternative
Mona Vale Road is currently a go-slow-if-at-all route during its
own multi-million dollar upgrade. Flooding aside, this year the
Parkway has also been closed due to several bad car accidents,
many involving the tricky turn-off to Middle Creek Reserve –
where locals have been crying out for safety changes for years.
Federal MP Jason Falinski tells us he is more focused than ever
to try to get the NSW Government to widen and floodproof
the Parkway, which he now prefers to call the ‘Wakehurst
Floodway’. In the meantime, readers want to know when they
can expect much-needed urgent repairs to the crumbling road
surface.
HEARD…
Avalon locals appeared to enjoy another win last month in
their long-running battle against unauthorised structures
built on Shore Brace Reserve in Riverview Road. They claimed
the structures built by the owner of the neighbouring 173-
175 Riverview Road were illegal, gave the impression of
privatising the reserve and were not in the public interest.
Council unanimously agreed with them 12 months ago.
However, no action was taken by Council for nine months
before the property owner, Gary Johnston (who gave his
side of the story to Pittwater Life last month), attempted
to overturn elements of the Council determination via an
application to modify the original DA. Given the number
of objections to the application, the matter was referred to
the independent Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel. We
hear that the panel unanimously rejected the application
on October 7. Further, we understand another application
for a Building Construction Certificate to “regularise” the
illegal structures has also been rejected by Council, which
now plans to commence the enforcement process. Locals
say they will be watching keenly to see if Council follows
through.
ABSURD...
While some consider Council guilty of dragging the chain
on Shore Brace Reserve, the same could never be said for any
of the key initiatives Council is keen to get up and running
at the earliest opportunity, even if there is the minor
issue of consulting with the community first. Like, say, its
12-month trial of a walking and cycling-friendly link within
The Serpentine at Bilgola, which also forms a section of the
Newport to Avalon Pedestrian and Cycle Link. The changes
include more space for cycling with cycling lanes on the
uphill section of The Serpentine; a 10km/h posted speed
limit (for cars and cyclists), with planter boxes, pavement
paintings and marked parking bays. But blink and you’d
miss Council’s community consultation, which it notes on its
website was slated for ‘October/November’. Well, kinda – it
was posted online on Friday October 23 and ends November
8, so if you want to have ‘Your Say’ you’d better act quickly.
Regardless, the trial will commence in December.
28 NOVEMBER 2020
The Local Voice Since 1991