In May 2021 we wrote to you seeking feedback on three streetscape options for the upgrade of the section of Chief Street between Port Road and Hawker Street. To refresh your memory, those options were:

Option 1: A new off-road shared use path on the eastern side of Chief Street:

Option 2: Kerb separated bicycle lanes on both sides of Chief Street:

Option 3: A new central median in Chief Street (retaining existing on-road bike lanes):

Consultation was open between May and June 2021 and 269 responses were received. We also had 23 people attend our Community ‘drop in’ session on 29 May 2021 at Ethelbert Square.

On collation of stakeholder responses, Option 2 (kerb separated bike lane) emerged as the most popular option, preferred by 43% of respondents. Option 1 (off-road shared use path) was the second-most supported option, preferred by 28% of respondents. Option 3, (central landscaped median) was the preference of 23% of respondents and no clear preference was expressed by the remaining 6%.

As is the case with stakeholder engagement on relatively complex projects, the survey was intended to form part of our decision making process by inviting you to tell us what you like and don’t like and whether you have concerns with the options presented (it wasn’t intended as a poll where the option with the highest number of votes would be automatically adopted).

The project team reviewed all feedback received in this second round of consultation, including submissions from directly affected residents and key stakeholder groups. Some of these submissions raised serious concerns about the loss of parking associated with Options 1 and 2. Others were concerned about the safety of Option 2, particularly in relation to the potential risk of bicycles being hit by vehicles reversing from or entering private property, as well as the narrow bicycle lane width and maintenance (sweeping) of two bike lanes beneath deciduous trees in this second Option.

In response, our consultants, noting that a total of 71% of respondents were supportive of a road design that provided cyclists with a facility separated from the roadway, have recommended that Council adopts Option 1, with modifications to provide a footpath adjacent a bicycle path (instead of a shared use path) to reduce pedestrian-cyclist conflict, as well as provision of parking on the eastern side. The modified Option 1 (off-road bike path on eastern side) is illustrated below.

Modified Option 1 (off-road bike path on eastern side) – Artist’s Impression (looking south)

Modified Option 1 (off-road bike path on eastern side) – Typical Cross-section (looking north)

Key features of this design are:

• Footpaths of 2.0-metres width on both sides.
• A 2.5-metre-wide bicycle path adjacent the footpath on the eastern side.
• On-street parking between tree beds on the western side (in approximate location of existing parking area).
• On-street parking adjacent the bicycle path on the eastern side.
• A 6-metre-wide vehicle carriageway located further east than the existing vehicle carriageway.
• Verge planting around street trees.
• Additional pedestrian crossing points, including zebra crossing at Ethelbert Square and across some side-streets.
• Raised platform treatments at Ethelbert Square and some intersections (pending detailed stormwater assessment).
• Undergrounding of power lines (PLEC application has been submitted with a favourable preliminary response).
• Rest areas at various nodes along the street.
• Public art and heritage interpretation at key points of interest.

The Final Master Plan consisting of the modified Option 1 (off-road bike path on eastern side) will be presented at the meeting of the Asset Management Committee on 21 March 2022 and Council on 28 March 2022 for endorsement to proceed to detailed design in 2022/23.

We would like to thank everyone for their input to date.