Plan to improve Hardy's Bay foreshore

Protection of the Yum Yum trees, repairs to the seawall, relocation of dinghies on the foreshore, and improved transport facilities are features of The Bouddi Group's proposals in the Hardys Bay Foreshore Plan.

The group said the aim was to produce a plan that guided the Hardys Bay foreshore development "in a safe and orderly manner, allowing for future traffic flows and parking while continuing to provide a pleasant, low-key experience by preserving and improving the aesthetic qualities already enjoyed by residents and visitors to our area".

The plan includes recommendations about car parking and limitations, walkways, paths, landscaping, built structures, road widening and road drainage.

For the Yum Yum Trees on the corner of Killcare Rd and Araluen Dr, the plan recommended a timber structure be designed and constructed around the two coral trees to incorporate timber seats and a boardwalk with a primary function of protecting the trees roots "as recommended in the arborist's report to Gosford Council".

The plan stated that with the sea wall, the soil settlement behind the stone wall would be repaired in accordance with engineering details designed to prevent leeching of soil and sand in the future, according to the report.

It stated that an access would be constructed to the beach and water at the south west end from or through the wall "particularly for children to access and enjoy this small sandy beach".

Under the plan, the "essentially seaworthy dinghies" currently spread on the beach would be "relocated elsewhere" or to a single dinghy stand in an "inconspicuous location" at the south west end of the beach (similar to dinghy stands at Koolewong Foreshore Reserve), and the unseaworthy dinghies would "be destroyed" after being photographed and appropriate notices in local publications over several weeks advising of the proposed action.

Under the transport and services section of the plan, the school bus stop on the south west side of Killcare Rd at the rear of Killcare Cellars would be clearly defined as a bus stop for pick up and set down for everyone travelling towards Pretty Beach and Wagstaffe.

The submission to council stated that the group was "unable to arrive at any meaningful number of car parking spaces that could be available on the south side of Araluen Dr in proximity to the business sector where the demand has more than doubled in the past two years".

The plan stated that "it was decided to incorporate into the plan 20 spaces of angle car parking designed to minimise the interruption to through traffic whilst accessing and exiting the parking safely".

It stated that it "may be considered preferable to break up the 20 spaces into two lots of 10 with landscaping in between".

"Also, the 20 spaces may be able to be reduced in number if some suitably located south side parking on Araluen Dr is found."

The plan also accommodated 40 parallel parking spaces on Araluen Dr west of Killcare Rd with the kerb and gutter to be replaced with a "soft" barrier.

Parking restriction incorporated in the plan included No Standing except for commercial deliveries in the vicinity of Killcare Rd and Araluen Dr intersection.

It stated that the line of sight to the left needed to be preserved for vehicles exiting the Killcare Cellars into Araluen Dr.

The plan requested No Parking alongside eating premises "for health and safety reasons".

It recommended a disabled parking space to be incorporated into the parking layout near the commercial premises.

The plan reinforced the "existing need" for a roundabout at the wider road reservation from 102 Araluen Dr or at the Heath Rd intersection.

It also stated that in the vicinity of the Araluen Dr and Heath Rd intersection there was a need to remove or prune vegetation that was "constricting visibility for pedestrians and vehicles".

It stated that at least one speed-hump similar to that recently installed in Pretty Beach Rd at the school was considered necessary in Araluen Dr.

The report noted that a track proposed alongside the parallel parking and behind the angled parking was more likely to be used by children cycling to school, wheelchairs, prams and people parking to access the cafes and food outlets.

It stated that the preferred surface for the track "could be the same as constructed at Mt Penang Gardens instead of 'hard' surfaces eg concrete, and should be shaped to avoid the 'gun barrel' effect".

The plan stated that the landscaping of the area should "create a more interesting and improved environment using selected native plants without impeding residents' views".

It noted that planting to provide shading should be planned in consultation with the residents opposite.

The plan also establishes a family area at the south-west end of the park which "will take some pressure off parking and other activities that occur at the Yum Yum end of the park".

"A few additional picnic tables and seats will be required for the south-west end and a few in the central area," it stated.

"The location of built structures should be integrated into the landscaping design.

"Preliminary discussions have been held with Council's Coordinator for Parks and Waterways regarding the inclusion of a children's play area into this park.

"The Pretty Beach, Wagstaffe and District Progress Association have offered to provide playground equipment."

The plan anticipated that Araluen Dr would require widening in order to accommodate the parking and two road lanes after a survey determined what the physical constraints and boundary definition showed.

It stated that all road and parking surfaces needed to be sealed to avoid the problem of dust and loose gravel.

It also proposed kerb and gutter to be avoided in favour of grassed swales "if necessary", and the existing grassed areas to be top dressed and areas prone to ponding after heavy rains to be raised and graded from the road to the seawall.

The plan acknowledged that the proposed layout was "conceptual in nature" and that it would be subject to council's policies, input from council's officers, consultants' advice and from the results of any surveys deemed to be necessary.

Plan outline, 9 Feb 2007 Richard Harper, Pretty Beach, Wagstaffe and District Progress Association