Wombat crossings for Bondi

A large part of downtown Bondi will become one of the largest 40 km/h zones in NSW by the end of this year, according to Waverley councillor John Wakefield.

After four years of studies and consultations, final approval has been given for the project, jointly funded by the council and the RTA to the tune of $550,000, of which the council is contributing more than half. The RTA funding is conditional on the work being completed before December 31 this year.

Cr Wakefield has been instrumental in pushing this project through council.

“This is the most extensive traffic calming program that Waverley Council has ever undertaken,” he said. “We should see a significant improvement in pedestrian safety in this densely populated and highly visited area. It has taken four years …and now residents of Bondi will finally see a slowing in traffic through the area.”

The project includes wombat crossings, road narrowing, speed humps and landscaping at 18 intersections in the area bounded by Beach Road, Glenayr Avenue, Hall Street and Gould Street, and will connect to the existing 40km/hr zone on Campbell Parade.

Council received 31 submissions from the public during the consultation period earlier this year – the majority supported the proposal, although several residents objected to the narrowing of O’Brien Street at Roscoe Street and expressed concerns about speed humps on Glenayr Avenue.

Several submissions also called for an extension of the plan to include Wairoa Avenue, Warners Avenue and the area around Bondi Primary School. But the council’s report noted: “The RTA rejected the inclusion [of these roads] in the proposals. Council can apply to the RTA to extend the 40 km/h zone in the future.”

These extensions would almost double the scope of the work.

A Wombat Crossing is a pedestrian crossing with a wide raised platform marked like a zebra crossing and pedestrian ‘walking legs’ signs and safety areas on either side.

– BY JEREMY BROWN