One more week to comment on roundabout plans

Peninsula residents have just one more week to have their say on the design plans for the $7M upgrade to the Maitland Bay Dr and Picnic Pde intersection at Ettalong Beach.

This section of Maitland Bay Dr is used by about 19,000 vehicles a day, according to Roads and Maritime Services figures, and the intersection provides links between Ettalong Beach, Woy Woy and the suburbs on the eastern side of Rip Bridge, including Daleys Point and St Huberts Island.

The Review of Environmental Factors and concept design is on public display for community input and submissions close at 5pm on Monday, November 18.

The documents are available at Woy Woy and Umina libraries or online at rms.work/MaitlandBayDrive

The Review, prepared by Beca Pty Ltd and Roads and Maritime Services, is a planning and assessment report that sets out the proposal, its potential environmental and social impacts and proposed mitigation measures.

It states that "development consent from Council is not required".

"Roads and Maritime is the determining authority for the proposal."

There are five options.

A standard roundabout is the preferred one because of its higher safety level, a smaller footprint as it reduced the amount of property acquisition and environmental impact, but still allows use by all types of vehicles including semi-trailers and emergency vehicles.

About 230sqm of Ettalong Oval would have to be relinquished for the intersection upgrade.

Proposed improvements include a raised concrete roundabout and medians, new right and left turns into Kitchener Park car park from Maitland Bay Dr but only a left turn on the way out, on-road lanes for cyclists, and new shared pathway to connect to existing footpath on the eastern side of Picnic Pde.

The Review stated there would be no disturbance to Blackwall Mountain or trees on the northern side of Maitland Bay Dr.

Another of the five options is "do nothing".

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President, Matthew Wales, said the local business community was pleased to see the project moving forward.

"This is an important intersection which forms the gateway to the Ettalong Beach village centre," he said.

"The intersection upgrade will also complement new development in Ettalong Beach such as the recently completed Atlantis residential apartments and the proposed boutique 83-room hotel in Memorial Ave, both of which will strengthen the local economy."

Subject to approval, construction is anticipated to start in the middle of next year and take about 12 months to complete.

SOURCE:

Media release, 30 Oct 2019

Adam Crouch, Member for Terrigal

Website, 5 Nov 2019

Roads and Maritime Services