If councillors agree, the changes will be trialled for about six months. Image: Bega Valley Shire Council.
Three new roundabouts have been pledged in a major, though temporary, shake-up of Merimbula’s streets.
Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) has been working on a long-awaited upgrade to be delivered via $2.8 million in grant funding.
At a meeting earlier this year, councillors deferred a decision on a tender for changing traffic arrangements in the CBD, as part of the wider project.
The council’s director of infrastructure Andrew Latta said the proposed program was developed from the findings of a 2023 traffic study.
“What we’re looking to do is a number of traffic treatments … some pedestrianisation of the CBD, as well, and some improvements to public spaces.”
Under the plans, new roundabouts will be installed at the Main Street-Sapphire Coast Drive intersection, at Main Street and Market Street and at Merimbula Drive and Market Street.
It’s also proposed that Market Street would become one-way (from Merimbula Drive travelling south), as would a section of Beach Street.
Access to Market Street and Beach Street is also included in the changes.
Some changes to car parking will result from the proposal, with four spots being lost through the overall plan.
“[Parking studies] indicate we’re not at full utilisation of parking in the whole Merimbula CBD … We’re certainly not at 100 per cent utilisation, in terms of parking,” Mr Latta said.
BVSC manager of engagement and corporate strategy Kaliegh Smerdon said traffic control measures and diversions would be put in place over six weeks.
“There will be a period of impact when those changes are being implemented [for the trial],” she said.
The council’s website says this is expected to be in August and September.
Ms Smerdon said the “public space activation” could allow events such as live music or children’s art sessions to be hosted in Merimbula’s main streets.
“[That could mean] seating, planting, landscaping, but also looking at working with some stakeholders to also have some events,” she said.
Ms Smerdon also noted further details would be revealed at a later date.
Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick said the exact use of those spaces “depends on the shopkeepers” and whether they would support efforts to “get a night-time economy going” in Merimbula.
But the changes are only temporary.
Acting CEO Emily Harrison said the council hoped the trial period (of about six months) would give everyone the chance to adjust.
“[A] long-ish trial will mean people will get used to it, adopt it and [think], ‘I’m used to it now, is it a good idea?’,” Ms Harrison said.
The need for the public to carefully consider the impacts of any changes was echoed by Ms Smerdon.
“That’ll be the opportunity for council to be able to make a decision — are some of these interventions functional and meeting our needs, and do we want to retain them?”
If councillors agree to place them on public exhibition, people will be able to comment until 21 May through the Have Your Say page.
Two information sessions will also be planned for Club Sapphire:
- 28 April, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm
- 3 May, between 4 pm and 5 pm.
Council staff will also be present for pop-in sessions at the Twyford Hall.
The proposal is set to be discussed at the council’s meeting next Wednesday (22 April). Find the meeting papers on the council’s website.
Further information on the Merimbula CBD upgrade project can be found on the council’s website.
