It took a lengthy debate, but there are major changes on the way for Merimbula’s CBD. Photo: Google Maps.
A one-way travel trial is locked in for a Merimbula street, with the move part of a controversial upgrade to the town.
Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) has been working on a long-awaited upgrade to the town’s CBD, which is being delivered via $2.8 million in grant funding.
Earlier this year, the council released its plans for public consultation, which included turning a section of Beach Street into a one-way road.
But in a feedback report received by BVSC, the results of an online survey indicated the community didn’t back the council’s proposal.
“Feedback provided in the comments shows strong resistance to changing Beach Street access or direction,” the report said.
“The main reasons include loss of direct connectivity, increased travel time, shifted congestion elsewhere and negative impacts on residents and visitors.”
The proposal also became a point of contention during a recent meeting.
Councillor Mitchell Nadin hit out at what he saw as a move to dismiss these community concerns, pointing to advocacy by the local business chamber against the move.
“If we go out and we do this community consultation and they tell us [something] and we ignore it, well then what’s the point of doing it in the first place?”
He said transitioning Beach Street traffic to a one-way approach wasn’t supported by the community.
“It’s behaving exactly as it should,” he said of current traffic arrangements.
“Can I be frank? The onus is on you, it should be, to prove that change is necessary for a certain reason and that change has not been established today.”
His push for two-way traffic to remain on Beach Street was knocked back, along with his other proposals – such as a 40 km/h speed limit for the street and a shared pedestrian zone near the Twyford Hall.
Councillor Peter Haggar was among those who backed the ‘1b Option’, which he described as a way to “future-proof” Merimbula’s CBD by making it accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.
Meeting documents note that this proposal includes replacing an existing carpark with 45-degree nose-to-kerb parking, which would also be extended to the east.
Other changes include formalised car parking on the northern side of Beach Street.
Councillor Haggar said that while this would reduce the number of carparks, that option would best serve the town’s CBD.
“Why not aim high, councillors? … Let’s make Beach Street the highlight of Merimbula. Let’s allow it to be everything it could possibly be.”
A staff member told councillors that, following the meeting, a trial period for the changes would be rolled out.
“The directional flow of the traffic and the parking arrangement could be considered as a trial – they are both reversible and they can be changed at any time,” they said.
“What would be more permanent are the public activation works that would be formed along Beach Street [and] also some of the civil works associated with those activations [which] would be difficult to reverse.”
The revised approach adopted by councillors will mean two mini-roundabouts will be installed along Main Street, at the intersections with Market Street and Sapphire Coast Drive.
Left- and right-hand turns will be kept at the northbound traffic lights on Market Street, with that street to remain a two-way thoroughfare.
Bega Council will also formalise a pedestrian crossing on a stretch of Market Street (between Merimbula Drive and Main Street).
Meanwhile, a new scope of works for Hylands Corner – which will include minor landscaping, seating and pedestrian safety improvements – was endorsed.
Councillors Nadin, Noble and Porter voted against the revised approach.
Further information on the Merimbula CBD upgrade project can be found on the council’s website.
