Chamber calls for traffic review

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has called on Gosford Council to undertake a full review of traffic conditions and movements in the Woy Woy town centre, following claims that the retail trade in Blackwall was "continuing to decline through lack of passing trade".

"The Chamber believes that the intersection at Blackwall Rd and Railway St opposite the rail station should be reconstructed with either a roundabout or traffic lights to allow right hand turn movements from Blackwall Rd into Railway St (Brisbane Water Dr) and, similarly, right turn movements from the station into Blackwall Rd," Chamber President Mr Matthew Wales said.

"Through traffic should be reinstated down Blackwall Rd rather than forcing vehicles around the back of Deepwater Plaza or through Oval Ave.

"Denying through traffic down Blackwall Rd is causing the centre of Woy Woy to suffer. "Our main streets need passing trade and that's something Woy Woy town centre is missing out on."

Mr Wales said a review of traffic conditions in Woy Woy was "well over due".

"With the proliferation of traffic lights in and around Deepwater Plaza, it's about time council looked at the real bottlenecks," Mr Wales said.

"The other poor performer as far as intersections go is the Charlton St and Victoria Rd 'bananas' which causes continual traffic headaches at the back of Deepwater Plaza.

"A better solution to this intersection needs to be found and perhaps allowing through traffic onto Blackwall Rd may alleviate some of the congestion here."

Mr Wales said that both Deepwater Plaza and Peninsula Plaza were "valuable retail assets" in the local community.

He noted that the "poor retail performance" in Blackwall Rd needed to be "urgently addressed".

"Our small retailers are an important component in the overall retail mix in Woy Woy," Mr Wales said.

"We need council to assist the business community by improving traffic and parking conditions in the Woy Woy town centre."

Press release, 17 Jul 2007 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce