GREAT Lakes Council have recently prepared a proposed redesign of Marine Drive, the foreshore and car parking arrangement between Hough Street and the Fire Station in Tea Gardens.
The new design plans to offer a more systematic approach to car parking, allocation of a foreshore cycleway and appropriate loading zones for the commercial interest along Marine Drive.
Recent works have seen some minor upgrades to the foreshore including seating, community art and a cycle/pedestrian pathway.
These improvements were developed in line with the existing Marine Drive Foreshore Master Plan, which was created in 2000.
Great Lakes Council's Manager of Parks and Recreation, David Bortfeld, said this recent development has lead to the preparation of an overall strategy for the foreshore, to ensure all future pressures can be accommodated in a systematic approach.
"There have been growing concerns with the amount and style of car parking along Marine Drive and in particular, what effect any future development of the foreshore would have on the available parking spaces," he explained.
Mr Bortfeld stated that major redevelopments proposed for the foreshore include an extension to the already existing cycleway, additional tree planting, formalising the car parking and the addition of traffic calming devices.
"This formalised approach may allow us to add seven per cent more car parking along Marine Drive.
"Also, in order to calm increasing traffic, two roundabouts are being proposed at Charles and Maxwell Streets," said Mr Bortfeld.
Council was successful in acquiring regional cycleway funding to create a hard surface link between the Singing Bridge and the public wharf, where the works were completed earlier this year.
These works were undertaken in line with the Marine Drive Foreshore Master Plan and provided the first stage in a cycle/pedestrian route through Tea Gardens.
"By all accounts and feedback to date, the pathway has been a successful initiative," added Mr Bortfeld.
The proposed route is designed to maximise the use of the foreshore for recreation and to prevent dissecting the existing open space area.
Mr Bortfeld said there would be a need to remove some existing Coral Trees, however stated that council's aim is to have no net loss of trees.
"Although Coral Trees create an attractive streetscape, at maturity they have been recognised as having the potential to become a problem due to limb drop, and have therefore become exempt under the Tree Preservation Order.
"This means no permission is required to remove this particular type of tree.
"We haven't identified an exact replacement species yet, however we will use something with the same sort of shape and dimension as the Coral Tree, possibly Figs or similar."
Mr Bortfeld said there have been ongoing concerns regarding the provision of car parking along the Marine Drive foreshore with the current ad-hoc approach resulting in a less than efficient means of supplying these services.
"The identified traffic conditions are proposed to deal with the increasing use of the foreshore by pedestrians and vehicles.
"During peak periods the use of Marine Drive can triple resulting in, at times, a less than safe interaction.
"The proposed realignment, roundabouts and designated loading zones are offered to provide a safe manageable foreshore environment whilst still allowing for the necessary movement of vehicles in the multi purpose environment," he said.
Mr Bortfeld told the NOTA that by listening to feedback from the local community, he believes the existing cycleway has been well received and heavily used.
"The Tea Gardens Foreshore is a unique community asset and offers an array of recreation opportunities for the immediate residents and the countless visitors to the area."
The cycleway plan for Tea Gardens picks up the cycleway where it currently ends (opposite the Lone Pine Caravan Park) and carries it all the way through Tea Gardens. It will follow Marine Drive, and then eventually run parallel along Myall Street, up Coupland Avenue, with footpath links down Budgeree Street.
"In the end you will be able to cycle all the way to Bi-Lo," said Mr Bortfeld.
"There have been some questions raised by the community regarding the proposed roundabouts and the changed traffic conditions, however we will wait until after the exhibition period to comment on submissions," he said.
The proposed concept plan has been displayed on the waterfront near the public wharf for the past two weeks, and will remain there until July 5.
The plan can also be viewed at Council's District Office, Myall Street Tea Gardens.
Interested persons can submit comments in writing before Wednesday, July 5, to The General Manager, Great Lakes Council, PO Box 450, Forster NSW 2428.
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