An update from Rob Emerson regarding the B-Line being extended to Newport

Hello Newport SLSC

I met with the B-Line planning staff on the 13th June at the request of local member Rob Stokes, as it was advised that a decision had been made by the State Government to extend the B-Line from terminating at Mona Vale as originally planned to terminating at Newport.

At this meeting I explained to the B-Line staff what services the Newport SLSC provides the community, that we have plans to modestly increase the club’s footprint into the car park and, more significantly, we believe and have been advocating that the southern portion of the car park outside the Club should be replaced with parkland to improve the current pedestrian circulation conflicts.

I also identified that:

• each Sunday morning through the summer season when we run the Nippers program the car park is fully utilised.
• we operate at least six surf carnivals and other events a year to assist the club and local business economy with income generation and these uses fill the current car park to capacity.
• there are other events that fill the car park to capacity on weekends including Australia Day, Market Days, sunny summer days, fun runs, etc, etc.

Whilst I was provided no detailed plans from B-Line to report back to our members, at the June Club Management Committee I relayed the information that I had heard from the staff at the B-Line meeting that included, that the car park on the beach was identified to be potentially used as a B-Line bus turning circle as the termination point of the new service, that space had to be made for three busses to layover and toilets facilities would need to be constructed to provide for drivers. The Club’s Management Committee considered the information and generally resolved that:

• the reduction in available car parking after initiating a bus turning circle and associated facilities will substantially reduce the capacity and effectiveness of the car park for the community, particularly in summer.
• proposing such significant bus infrastructure on the absolute beach front land seems completely inappropriate for the local beachside environment and people that use the car park for the coastal walk, visiting the beach, netball training etc.
• the traffic movement required to turn the volume of buses suggested into the beach car park across Barrenjoey Road will be problematic.
• the surf club management committee should join other community groups in articulating our concerns and disapproval to the proposal of turning buses around in the beach car park and building the associated infrastructure required in this location for the B-Line.

On the 20th June, Jack Holland (Deputy President and Life Member) and I attended the Newport Residents Association at their request and we outlined the Club’s concerns and listened to their concerns.  Whilst the Club at this stage has not objected to the B-Line project in its totality, we have articulated our concerns to our local member of the potential impacts to the Club and the beach car park if the State Government chooses to use the carpark as a bus terminus.

The Newport Residents Association have produced the following YouTube clip that effectively outlines their concerns and provides a summary of the proposed project.

As further information becomes available I will provide it through our information channels.

Regards

Rob Emerson
President, Newport SLSC