Decision details

Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor Chung –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         following a Lord Mayoral Minute of 15 May 2020, pop-up cycleways were identified by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and the City as part of a solution to ease demand for public transport as the NSW Government eases restrictions on business activity following the COVID-19 lockdown;

(ii)        there has been significant community opposition to the City of Sydney and TfNSW proposal for a temporary cycleway on Bridge Road, Glebe due to the adverse impact the pop-up cycleway will have on the local community, including:

(a)       the imposition of a 24/7 clearway outside of residences on both sides of Bridge Road, where houses already have no stopping along the laneway to the rear;

(b)       the associated loss of all on street parking spaces (including a disability parking spot between Hewitt Ave and 182 Bridge Road) outside of clearway hours in a community which already has limited on street parking, and where many properties don't have any rear access; and

(c)       a complete lack of community consultation about the temporary cycleway;

(iii)      residents on the Bridge Road are already experiencing the adverse effects of having no vehicle access to their properties. This has included:

(a)       no ability for ambulances, buses, taxis and other vehicles to stop along the entirety of Bridge Road to pick up or drop off residents who are unable to cycle;

(b)       congestion down a key arterial road during garbage collection, resulting in the unsafe overtaking of garbage trucks by personal vehicles;

(c)       deliveries from supermarkets being refused or being returned to the depot for collection when general delivery vehicles have been unable to stop or park on Bridge Road;

(d)       this will have particular impacts during any heightened COVID-19 restrictions where contactless delivery options will be necessary for food as well as medications and other essentials for elderly and vulnerable residents; and

(e)       tradespeople being unable to park their vehicles and access properties; and

(iv)      at the Council meeting on 27 July 2020, Council was provided by officers with conflicting advice as to the duration of the Ministerial Order – Environmental Planning and Assessment (COVID 19 Development- Temporary Cycleways) Order 2020 – and whether a future Ministerial Order of the same or a similar effect was likely to be made by the Minister. Accurate and current advice on this issue is necessary to inform Councillors on steps to be taken and the timing of such steps; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         liaise with the NSW Minister for Transport and Roads, the Hon. Andrew Constance MP, and Transport for NSW to strongly advocate for:

(a)       the Bridge Road cycleway to operate only in clearway hours Mondays to Fridays;

(b)       kerbside parking outside of clearway hours be returned to Bridge Road; and

(c)       the reinstatement of a disability parking space between Hewitt Ave and 182 Bridge Road, Glebe as a matter of urgency;

(ii)        liaise with Transport for NSW to strongly advocate that no step be taken to continue the Ministerial Order beyond 25 September 2020 or to introduce a further Ministerial Order to the same or similar effect and that no action be take to reintroduce any form of cycleway on Bridge Road Glebe until the following measures have been completed:

(a)       a full and comprehensive Safety Audit relating to all aspects of a cycleway in Bridge Road Glebe;

(b)       a full report as to the impact of any such cycleway on residents, including elderly, vulnerable and disabled residents;

(c)       a comprehensive report on the effect of any such cycleway on emergency and essential services including but not limited to, garbage removal, water and electricity; and

(d)       following the public release of the reports in (a) (b) and (c), a process and period of meaningful public consultation;

(iii)      request Transport for NSW to publicly release:

(a)       any report or investigations, whether final or preliminary, conducted in the last ten years which deals with safety issues concerning a cycleway in Bridge Road; and

(b)       the basis of the determination by the Minister that the making of the Ministerial Order was necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the public during the COVID 19 pandemic;

(iv)      provide Council and its next meeting with an analysis of:

(a)       the number of cyclists using the Bridge Road cycleway in the period since it was installed compared with the number of cyclists using Bridge Road in the period immediately prior to the installation of the cycleway; and

(b)       the number of, and reasons, for cyclists using the footpaths on Bridge Road since the installation of the pop-up cycleways; and

(v)       report back to Council via the CEO Update.

The motion was lost on the following show of hands –

Ayes (3)          Councillor Chung, Forster and Phelps

Noes (6)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Kok, Miller, Scott, Scully and Thalis.        

Motion lost.

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