Decision details

Moved by Councillor Weldon, seconded by Councillor Miller –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is planning a new 2-way separated cycleway connecting Eliza Street to the existing cycleway on Wilson Street (north of Erskineville Road;

(ii)        the proposed cycleway on this section of Wilson Street is intended to connect established cycling routes in the Inner West with the City of Sydney’s cycling network, forming a safer cycling connection between Newtown, Redfern, Central and beyond;

(iii)      TfNSW has recently published a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the proposed design and is currently assessing community and stakeholder feedback;

(iv)      the current proposed design requires the removal of a 12-metre loading zone and 13 parking spaces on Wilson Street, which provide loading for local business services requirements;

(v)       the proposal will significantly impact the operations of Thai Pothong which relies on Wilson Street as a goods entrance for essential daily operations, including for high-volume deliveries, daily waste and recycling collection, grease-trap servicing, safe forklift access and service-vehicle access;

(vi)      Thai Pothong is a beloved Newtown institution. With 500+ seating capacity, and employing 70-odd staff, it is one of the largest restaurants in the City of Sydney;

(vii)     TfNSW is proposing to relocate the Wilson Street loading zone 60 metres away to a timed access area on Erskineville Road. Local businesses, including Thai Pothong, do not consider this to be a feasible or adequate replacement for services access;

(viii)    the City of Sydney's practice is to make sure we take into consideration the operation of adjacent businesses and incorporate their needs into the design as much as is possible; and

(ix)      TfNSW's Movement and Place Framework and associated design manuals guide practitioners to design streets to consider both movement functions, such as freight deliveries and cyclist, with place-based activities such as outdoor dining and seating, in different settings;

(x)       the proposed cycleway is an important connection and the City supports TfNSW addressing this missing link;

(xi)      in responding to the REF the City made a submission asking TfNSW to change kerbside parking restrictions near Thai Pothong in King Street, to facilitate loading; and

(xii)     the City has encouraged Thai Pothong to contact TfNSW about their concerns, as it is a NSW Government project;

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to contact Thai Pothong to check they have been able to meet with TfNSW to discuss the operational impacts resulting from the proposed cycleway design; and

(C)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Minister for Transport calling on him to further consider efficient access routes to loading which would reduce the operational impacts to Thai Pothong resulting from the proposed cycleway design.

Carried unanimously.

X113759