A planned upgrade of the main street in Brunswick Heads to make the former highway more people and bicycle friendly is still several years away, according to the taskforce helping to plan it.
Echonetdaily this week reported that some locals were concerned about safety and other issues as a result of narrowing Tweed Street (the old Pacific Highway) for central car parking and tree planting under a master plan for the project. (see https://www.echo.net.au/2015/11/narrowing-of-main-street-in-bruns-sparks-safety-fears/).
But a taskforce made up of residents, businesses and community groups working with Byron Shire Council to develop more detailed plans and costings for the staged works says implementation of the the project is still years away.
Tweed Street Taskforce member Kim Rosen yesterday issued a statement in response to the article in Echonetdaily.
‘An environmental upgrade of Tweed Street from a highway into a people and bicycle friendly street was first flagged at the all-town community workshops in 2004, at which the “Taking Care of Brunswick” Community Development Plan was collaboratively developed,’ the task-force statement said.
‘An extensive consultation process with the whole community was conducted in 2009 and a huge range of issues and opportunities were taken on board and factored in to the design to create the master plan.
‘This was all fully documented by the consultants in a storyboard. Features of the master plan included calming the traffic, beautification of the street, trees and seats, increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists and also provided opportunities for attending to other issues such as drainage, parking and signage.
‘The Tweed St Masterplan was approved by council in August 2010. The storyboard and concept designs have been available on the council website since 2010.
‘The master plan was included again as project in the town’s inclusive 2011-2016 Community Economic Transition Plan.
‘In the last year, the Tweed St Taskforce (a mix of residents, businesses and community groups) has been working with council to develop more detailed plans and costings for the whole street and for stages.
‘The goal has been to get the master plan to “shovel ready” stage and therefore and in a position to access substantial state and federal government grants.
‘At the recent Tweed St Masterplan Refresher Forum organised by the Taskforce, the history, process and design elements of the Masterplan were outlined for newcomers and community group representatives.
‘Issues raised during the Forum Q&A (including parking, tree planting, bus stops, lighting etc) were recorded.
‘After the project progresses beyond the preliminary costing and funding stage, these and any new issues or opportunities will be considered by the Council engaged Project Manager in conjunction with engineers, landscapers, other experts and stakeholders.
‘Implementation of the plan is still several years away.’
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