The Crescent, Angourie - Traffic Calming Project

Feedback has now closed on this project and works are scheduled to commence in July 2024. Thanks to everyone who provided feedback during this engagement process.

Angourie is set to become safer with an upcoming traffic calming project aimed at enhancing safety for pedestrians and bike riders. Funded by the NSW Government's High Pedestrian Activity Zone Funding Program, the project includes a new 30 km/h speed limit along The Crescent, and various traffic calming measures.

On Angourie Road:

• Rural gateway treatment: introduces a clear transition at the speed zone change, prompting drivers to slow down.
• Crossing point upgrade: improves the Shared User Path crossing with a larger pedestrian refuge, also acting as traffic calming.
• Path continuation: extends the separated shared user path to The Crescent.

On The Crescent:

• 30 km/h zone: establishes a High Pedestrian Activity Zone speed limit
• Raised safety platforms: two speed control platforms to ensure compliance with the speed limit.
• Safe crossing point and footpath: new crossing and footpath in front of the shops.
• Kerb extensions: reduces pedestrian crossing distances and improves visibility.
• Missing kerb - construction of a section of missing kerb in between the shops and Lake Street.

Spookys Beach Access Road:

• Shared zone adjustment: moves the 10 km/h zone closer to the start of the road and installs new speed humps to slow traffic.
• Accessible parking space: provides a designated accessible space with a connection to the public toilets.
• Bollard installation: prevents parking near curves and footpath entrances.

Response to Local Community Feedback

Original design modification:
The first concept design included a raised intersection at The Crescent and Lake Street, but this was excluded from the final plan due to budget constraints and community feedback prioritising traffic calming on The Crescent. The raised intersection can be revisited after evaluating the effectiveness and community feedback from the current project.

Speeding on Lake Street and Pacific Street:
Concerns about speeding on Lake Street and Pacific Street were noted, but addressing these areas is beyond the scope of this project. We can consider traffic calming measures for these streets after evaluating the effectiveness and community feedback from the current project.

Raised safety platform concerns:
Some residents are concerned that speed platforms are noisy and inconvenient. However, the proposed platforms are designed to minimise noise and discomfort while effectively slowing traffic. Recent installations elsewhere have not caused noise complaints, as traffic is slowed throughout the length of the road, creating a quieter environment.

Pedestrian crossing at shops:
A marked pedestrian crossing is not proposed at this stage due to the need for high-cost floodlighting, which could disturb nearby residents, as well as the low number of pedestrians crossing outside peak times. The marked crossing can be reconsidered if the shop precinct develops further, and after reviewing the effectiveness of the current project.

Spookys Beach Access Road:
Upgrades to the access road are outside the scope of this project. However, low-cost improvements are proposed to enhance safety.

Changing the bus routes and providing a bus turnaround on Angourie Road.
The funding for this project was primarily allocated for traffic calming on The Crescent to support a 30 km/h High Pedestrian Activity Area. Preventing buses from entering the Angourie township would require the construction of a bus turnaround on Angourie Road before the village. Buses have large turning paths, and this would likely require significant clearing, fill, costs, and works outside of Council land. Bus routes are managed and reviewed by Transport for NSW. While this could be investigated when resources permit, it is outside the scope of this project.

Design Features:
Based on community feedback, we have replaced the concrete blisters opposite the shops with garden beds. Additionally, the concrete footpaths will have a tinted aggregate finish to blend better with the natural landscape. Signage has been kept to a minimum, with included signage being statutory requirements.

See the plans here.