Plans for a more pedestrian-friendly Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby, are now on exhibition on Council’s website, and according to the 26-page document, will provide more shade, and restrict vehicle access.
The town’s iconic palms are slated for removal, drawing the ire of locals on Council’s Facebook post.
The justification for palm removal in The Draft Concept Design – Burringbar Street, Mullumbimby, is ‘because they provide little shade; drop large fronds and seed heads that can be hazardous to pedestrians, and do not promote biodiversity’.
Burringbar Street plans:
Increased pedestrian areas
Reduced vehicle access
Palms replaced with natives
No roundabouts
10 car parks removed
No plans to address traffic
There was no mention of how the town’s large lorikeet population, which nest in the palms nightly, would be rehoused.
Additionally, the plans do not address how the ever-increasing traffic would be managed.
Transport for NSW undertook a ‘Healthy Streets’ Assessment of Burringbar Street in August 2023 and found ‘too many vehicles and too many heavy vehicles’, according to the report.
Ten car parks would be lost, additional pedestrian crossings would be installed at Dalley Street and adjacent to laneways.
The Echo asked Council staff why no information was included around how to manage the loss of parking and movement of traffic.
Sharyn French, Manager, Environmental and Economic Planning, replied, ‘The design is simply a draft. We are asking people to give us their feedback about how they feel about the design, and that includes any potential loss of parking. The draft design includes a narrowing of the road, but traffic movement will remain the same, with the exception of some changes at the Burringbar and Station Street intersection. The draft is consistent with the objectives of the Our Mullumbimby Masterplan to prioritise people over cars in the main street and to also encourage through traffic to use alternative routes around the centre’.
The plans are also without funding, yet if adopted, will support state and federal funding grants.
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