Waratah Avenue Place-Making Strategy

I agree with the improvements to Waratah Ave, however, I do not agree with the removal of any car parking spaces. To remove car parking will destroy local businesses and Nedlands is supposed to be the council that is all for local business.
What is the point of having easier access to businesses and wider walkways if you can't park close to your intended point?
Sounds a tad stupid to me.
Regards
J Slater

My feedback is as follows (I may submit further feedback):

1. Roundabout is required and should be built coincident with other works to minimise cost and impact to traders and ratepayers.
2. Both plateaus on Waratah and Genesta are not desirable, not needed and will interfere with buses and trucks, and hence I object to them being built.
3. Not net loss of parking bays across the whole street. More bays on Genesta where current turnaround is located.
4. No parking bays on Alexander Road south of Waratah (due to cost)
5. 6m road width is non-compliant with WAPC, MRWA and Austroads Guidelines. It should be 7.5m to allow for buses. For reference - please refer to the WAPC Guideline for Design and Geometric Layout of Residential Roads.

I do not favour a general increase in the width of the foot path on either side of Waratah Avenue. A minor increase in the footpath width where the current alfresco areas occupied by the coffee shop and restaurant can be achieved by removal of the shrubs in the centre of the road at that point. No further trees are required. Install the round about at Alexander Road Intersection and pedestrian crossings and get a 40kph speed limit . That is sufficient.
As a number of properties will be redeveloped along this section of Waratah Avenue (if the development regulations are ever settled) over the next few years further parking can be addressed then, preferably onsite parking. Do not narrow the traffic lanes to 6 metres it is dangerous.

I live in 80A Waratah Ave. I don't think that more trees in Waratah Avenue are a good idea, Already because of parking bays, dustbins have to be placed near or under trees which get damaged when the bins are lifted. Visibility for cars coming out of driveways must be a priority.

I prefer to keep the road width of Waratah Ave as is - the raised plateau pedestrian crossing will slow traffic. With parking along the street, a reduced road width would cause traffic jams when wider vehicles are parked. If a larger pavement is required outside coffee shops with tables outside, I suggest you sacrifice the parallel parking in front of those shops.

For five houses in Genesta Crescent, I do not think the parking area there should be removed. ( It is grey not pink in the diagram.) If the road is to be widened, maybe some of the park needs to be sacrificed. The fact that it is one way from Waratah Avenue makes traffic flow in Waratah Ave. better.

Retain the traffic warden for children crossing near Adelma.


I would like more detail on better pedestrian crossings should there be a new roundabout at Alexander/Waratah. The islands in the middle of the road look very small in the drawing.

Christine Lewis

Dear council staff,
The proposal for Waratah Avenue is completely out of character and attempts to render unusable the primary access road for all residents, construction vehicles (unfortunately endless), delivery vehicles and busses.
It is also obvious that the person who conceived this plan has never been along this road in the early hours of the morning when vast hoards of bicycles use this road and residents need the width to safely pass them. If the road is to be narrowed and angle parking introduced then I suggest that this section of road have a bicycle ban imposed as it will become 10 times more dangerous for cyclists. Just look at how dangerous Stirling Road in Claremont is now for cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.
This plan seems solely designed to benefit a small number of owners of commercial premises along Waratah, and those running the restaurants and cafes. This definitely is not for the benefit of the community.

Hi
I've spent a number of years shopping and having coffee at Waratah Rd venues and have really not found a problem with parking, pedestrian access (let's face it, it's not Stirling Hwy). I can't really agree with narrowing the road to 6 metres as it allows the easy passage of traffic along Waratah and adds to the visual aesthetics of the area (a tree lined boulevard that speaks of a relaxed lifestyle). I do, however agree that the driveway access from the lower end of the shopping area exit requires revision. When you exit the Dalkeith shopping at the exit nearest to the newsagent the line of vision looking down Waratah in the direction of Victoria Ave is very poor. Possibly an easy fix would be to take out a parking bay close to the exit so that a clearer line of vision could be achieved. I also can't disagree with more tree planting, the more the better but I do feel that we don't necessarily have to have natives. A tree is a tree at the end of the day, some of the European trees survive on low rainfall, are hardy and provide wonderful shaded canopies. Website: http://redwoodbarn.com/DE_droughttrees.html. Trees, the variety and scale of them in the City of Nedlands is remarkable and environmentally pleasing, they create a sense of place and peace and can't easily be replaced.
Myself, I wouldn't disturb the fabric of Waratah too much, it needs a tweak but not much as I'm sure the City wants to preserve the integrity of this unique slice of Western suburbs life.
Kind regards
Janette Offermann

Drawing WA3-2018-01-MGA94-A shows 7 tables outside No. 99-105/A.
Whilst acknowledging the note that locations are indicative only, it does show a narrowing of the footpath available to pedestrians, which presumably is one of the concerns being addressed. It would be preferable to show only 4 table at this location.
Please also make consideration for cyclists transiting through Waratah Avenue.