Media release: Randwick Council set to invest $68M in light rail

RANDWICK COUNCIL SET TO INVEST $68 MILLION IN LIGHT RAIL

Media release - Randwick City Council

Thursday 17 April 2014

Randwick City Council has today, Thursday 17 April 2014, released a draft light rail support plan in response to the NSW Government’s CBD and South East Light Rail project which proposes to spend $68 million over five years to increase parking and support the introduction of light rail in Randwick City.

The draft support plan will be considered by Councillors at a Council Meeting on Tuesday 29 April 2014.

Contained within the plan are a series of recommendations, design revisions and detailed technical drawings in response to the Government's $1.6B light rail project which will run from Circular Quay to Randwick and Kingsford.

Mayor Scott Nash said the support plan is about ensuring Randwick City gets the most out of the new transport system.

"We welcome the introduction of light rail in Randwick City and commend the Government on their vision. Our draft plan is about supporting light rail and making sure Randwick City gets the most out of this once in a generation opportunity to revitalise our City," Mayor Nash said.

Council is proposing to allocate $68M over five years to:

• create hundreds of new onstreet parking spaces (to reclaim those lost by the introduction of light rail) by changing parallel parking to angle parking in local streets near Anzac Parade;
• purchase land and construct a multi-storey car park at Kingsford 9-ways roundabout;
• build new public plazas and close streets at Waratah Ave/Belmore Rd, Randwick; and Meeks St/Anzac Pde, Kingsford;
• upgrade stormwater drainage;
• build east-west cycleways that connect with light rail stops;
• build bicycle lockers and racks near light rail stops; and
• undertake traffic calming works in residential streets.

Council is continuing to work with Transport for NSW over the details of the proposed light rail lines to Kingsford and Randwick. Some of the issues that Council considers should be included in any Development Agreement with Transport for NSW are:

• inclusion of Council’s Light Rail Urban Design Guidelines;
• pedestrianisation of High Street between Wansey Road and Botany Street.
• relocating the light rail stabling facility;
• extending light rail to Maroubra Junction;
• provision of a table of minimum footpath widths along Anzac Parade;
• undergrounding power lines along Anzac Parade;
• swapping the construction compound site from the Rainbow Street site to Anzac Parade south of Sturt Street to provide for an additional 50 car parking spaces for the Kingsford Town Centre and Souths Juniors;
• maintaining some car parking on Anzac Parade where configuration allows;
• developing an agreed process to assess trees for retention along the alignment (Wansey Road), instead of leaving it to the discretion of the PPP;
• provision of a business liaison officer by TfNSW for our town centres;
• development of a business continuity plan in liaison with Council and Chambers of Commerce; and 
• input into naming rights of light rail stations.

Mayor Scott Nash said:

“Light rail will bring considerable benefits to our area. It will create between 500 and 700 jobs as a direct result of construction, and it will support the growth of more than 4,000 jobs in education health and research in Randwick City,” Mayor Nash said.

“But with the benefits also come many challenges and inevitable disruption to residents and businesses. Our plan is to ensure we address these as much as possible.

“I want everyone in Randwick City to know that Council is well aware of their concerns and that we are working hard on developing the right solutions. Although this is a State Government project, not a Council project, we’re working with all stakeholders to get the best outcome we can for our City,” Mayor Nash said.

The $68 million light rail support plan will be discussed by Councillors at this month’s public Council meeting on Tuesday 29 April 2014 at Randwick Town Hall starting at 6pm.

DOCUMENT DOWNLOADS

• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: CBD & South East Light Rail Project (90.2 KB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 1_Council Resolutions (38.1 KB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 2_MoU (1.13 MB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 3_EIS Submission (553 KB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 4a_Light Rail Urban Design Guidelines Volumes 1 (68.2 MB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 4b_Light Rail Urban Design Guidelines Volumes 2 (15.2 MB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 5_OnStreet Parking Appraisal (19.1 MB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 6_Estimated light rail support plan costs (17.5 KB) (pdf)
• Randwick Council Report 29 April 2014: ATTACHMENT 7_Preferred Infrastructure Report response (102 KB) (pdf)

More information
1300 722 542 council@randwick.nsw.gov.au
www.lightrailtorandwick.com.au

ENDS
Media enquiries:

Emma Shanks - 0408 740 476 or emma.shanks@randwick.nsw.gov.au
Joshua Hay - 0402 351 459 or Joshua.hay@randwick.nsw.gov.au