Issue - decisions

Moved by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Worling –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         last month, a woman and her son were hit by a car at the pedestrian crossing on Swanson Street between Harry Noble Reserve and The Kurrajong Hotel in Erskineville;

(ii)        Swanson Street is a State-controlled Road and therefore, Transport for NSW is responsible for implementing road safety measures there;

(iii)      Swanson Street has a speed limit of 40 km/h as it's part of a designated "High Pedestrian Activity Area”;

(iv)      for over a year, residents, including Friends of Erskineville, have been raising concerns about the need for the existing pedestrian crossing on Swanson Street between Harry Noble Reserve and The Kurrajong Hotel to be upgraded to a raised crossing to improve visibility, slow traffic, and improve safety for people walking;

(v)       in February 2024, the Lord Mayor wrote to the then NSW Minister for Roads supporting the community’s request and calling on the Minister to ensure Transport for NSW delivers a raised pedestrian crossing on Swanson Street following community consultation;

(vi)      the Minister for Roads responded to the Lord Mayor, stating that Transport for NSW would investigate the feasibility of installing a raised crossing on the existing crossing and, if appropriate, seek funding for it. The Minister noted that projects are prioritised based on strict criteria which include reported crashes, road geometry, and the safety benefits returned to the community;

(vii)     City of Sydney staff followed up with Transport for NSW, who recently confirmed that they have nominated the raised pedestrian crossing on Swanson Street for funding – it is currently at Project Nomination Stage;

(viii)    this crossing would complement the City of Sydney's improvements and traffic calming measures in the area, including a raised pedestrian crossing on Park Street at Swanson Street, and other treatments endorsed by Council in October 2023 guided by the Alexandria and Erskineville Traffic and Transport Study; and

(ix)      City of Sydney staff recently pruned the garden beds on both sides of the existing pedestrian crossing on Swanson Street at Harry Noble Reserve and in front of the Kurrajong Hotel to improve sightlines for road users

(B)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the NSW Minister for Roads calling on the NSW Government to:

(i)         allocate funding to and deliver a raised pedestrian crossing on Swanson Street between Harry Noble Reserve and The Kurrajong Hotel in Erskineville to improve safety for all road users as soon as possible;

(ii)        in the meantime, refresh the road markings on the existing pedestrian crossing to improve safety until the new raised pedestrian crossing is installed; and

(iii)      reduce the road speed on Swanson Street in Erskineville to 30km/h as it is a high activity area close to the local village centre; and

(C)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to investigate whether removal of the hedges is needed at one or both sides of the existing pedestrian crossing to further improve sightlines and if it is, plant low-level planting in its place.

Carried unanimously.

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