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Better Streets Quarterly Update: Building Bridges with NSW Politicians

3/9/2023

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We're excited to share with you the progress we've made in our recent meetings with key New South Wales politicians. Our advocacy efforts are gaining momentum, and we're at the forefront of conversations that will shape the future of our streets. These conversations are pivotal in encouraging our politicians to make decisions that ensure streets are not just roads but vibrant community spaces.

Regular Engagements with Minister Haylen's Office

We've successfully established a regular quarterly meeting with Minister Haylen's office, the Transport Minister. Our most recent discussion was both productive and promising. We delved into the potential of launching an active travel to schools program for NSW. This initiative is close to our heart as it not only promotes healthy and safe access for our children but also reduces traffic congestion during peak school hours. We provided a range of options for a program in the short to long term, and examples of successful pilot projects throughout NSW.

Furthermore, we discussed setting mode share targets and provided advice on rallying community support for the Oxford Street streetscape upgrade and cycleway in Paddington. 

Meeting with Dr Marjorie O'Neil MP
Our advocacy for active travel to schools found a passionate supporter in Dr Marjorie O'Neil MP, the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport. As with Haylen's office we provided further insights on this topic and gave practical advice on how such a program would roll out to councils and schools. Joining us in this meeting was Safe Streets for Schools, along with members experienced in Sydney's Northern Beaches and Eastern suburbs. Their insights and experiences added depth to our discussions, ensuring a holistic approach with practical advice.

Workshop with Transport for NSW
In collaboration with Bicycle NSW and BIKEast, we participated in a workshop led by Transport for NSW on the Oxford Street streetscape upgrade and cycleway. Our role was to guide them on collaborating with us and our coalition members to rally community support. We also provided feedback on the proposed street design layout and offered suggestions on framing messaging and timing for maximum impact.

Upcoming Meeting with John Graham
We're scheduled to meet with John Graham, Minister for Roads and Arts, this week. We're eager to discuss our vision and gain his insights on roads, outdoor dining and the 24 hour economy.

Our Commitment
One of our core purposes at Better Streets is to consistently engage with key decision-makers and politicians in government. We believe in supporting them in making bold and necessary steps to improve streets for people. Our goal is to ensure that our streets are not just thoroughfares but spaces where communities thrive.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. Together, we can make our streets better for everyone.
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Slip lane party in Fairlight

3/9/2023

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Fairlight community members and businesses have partnered with Northern Beaches Council to host a street party in the village centre on Sydney Road. The slip road opposite the main shops will be closed to cars and traffic speeds reduced from 60 to 40km/h, allowing the village to come together and celebrate local artists, makers, musicians and community groups. There's a packed agenda with yoga classes, salsa classes, and a DJ. Come and join in the Fairlight fling. 
Event Date: Saturday 9 September 2023
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Fairlight Village Centre, 147 Sydney Road, Fairlight NSW. 10 minutes walk from Manly Wharf or the 144 bus drops you in the heart of the village
​Event website: link

The installation of temporary infrastructure such as artificial grass, planters, outdoor furniture and garden games on the road (often referred to as  tactical or guerilla urbanism) will be a great opportunity to highlight the benefits of creating additional space for people and improving the safety of our streets.

Better Streets will be launching a new online mapping tool on the day that will allow community members to highlight opportunities to create safe, healthy, people-friendly, climate-friendly streets.

Call to action: Better Streets are looking for volunteers to help with the event. We need:
  • 3 - 4 people to be at the  Better Streets stall and show people how to use the mapping tool (don’t worry we will show you what to do)
  • 2 people to help with crowd management and directions (no qualifications required)
  • 1 first aider (qualification required)
  • Photography and videography
  • Assist with Better Streets social media posts
If you'd like to be involved, we'd love to hear from you on contact@betterstreets.org.au.
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Oxford Street Meeting with Transport for NSW

7/8/2023

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Oxford Street, Darlinghurst NSW is a major route from the East to Sydney City. The safe and efficient movement of people walking, riding bicycles, catching public transport and businesses should be prioritised.
Better Streets met with Transport for NSW to discuss the Oxford Street project, currently known as the Oxford Street cycleway - link for more details. 
​Better Streets proposed the following:
  • The project be called Urban Renewal Plan or Streetscape Improvement - easier and nicer to walk - localised footpath widening and buffer from traffic noise and pollution, trees and shade, outdoor dining,
  • The project integrate with the City of Sydney's City Access Strategy, Woollahra Urban Forestry Strategy (which would improve buy-in with Paddington Society)
  • Limit construction time with minimal disruption
  • The Street be zoned as 30km/h speed zone in order to maximise placemaking benefits for businesses - this is within Transport for NSW guidelines. 
  • Do not support the proposed changes to the lane travel widths. Oxford Street is not an arterial bus route here, 333 is a local bus because of transition to Bondi Junction.

To provide support for the project and suggestions - fill in the survey 
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NEW Delegations give NSW local councils more control

18/4/2023

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The new Temporary Delegation from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) makes it easier for local Councils to install pedestrian crossings (and other minor works) on local roads.

TfNSW has recently issued a new ‘Temporary Delegation to Councils’ that makes it easier for councils to install a range of minor traffic works on local streets by exempting these works from review by the Local Traffic Committee (LTC) process - see Temporary delegation to councils for minor works | Transport for NSW (full explanation and list of approved minor works). 

Previously councils did not control changes on local streets and required  all new traffic control facilities on local streets to be reviewed by the Local Traffic Committee for their Local Government Area (LGA). Created in the 1970s, LTCs are unique to New South Wales.  


What does this change mean for Community?
Under this delegation Councils are able to respond to requests for minor works such as pedestrian crossings without needing approval from an LTC. This change removes red tape and makes it faster for a Council to respond to a request and to implement their own priorities. (Note: This change is recent and not all Council officers are aware of the new Temporary Delegation).
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How can the Community use the new delegation to ask Council for a crossing on a local street?
People in the community can approach Council with more confidence because Councils can now use the new delegation to seek a faster approval to install a pedestrian crossing, given the request meets TfNSW criteria, without approval from an LTC. The new Delegation only applies under certain circumstances, e.g.: not within 100 metres of a set of traffic signals, only on a local road with a speed limit of 50km/h or less, not on bus routes or within 50m of a light rail corridor. Community members approaching Council should ensure officers are aware of the new Temporary Delegation, and inform Councils officers that they are authorised to install crossings (and 10 other minor works) without LTC approval. Note: Community members should also be aware that TfNSW pedestrian warrants do not apply on local roads. 

Other minor works included: 
  • works to enable alfresco dining on a road (where there is no change to the number of continuous travel lanes)
  • continuous footpaths
  • converting existing pedestrian (zebra) crossings to raised pedestrian ('wombat') crossings
  • mid-block treatments to manage vehicle speed including road humps, road cushions, chicanes and slow points
  • pedestrian crossings
  • pedestrian refuges
  • 'No Stopping' controls at intersections
  • kerb build-outs to reduce intersection crossing distance or manage vehicle speed (where there is no change to the number of continuous travel lanes)
  • kerb modifications for footpath improvements or tree planting (where there is no change to the number of continuous travel lanes)
  • associated changes to kerbside parking necessary to implement the proposal and to offset any parking impacts.
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