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Responses
to the Questions with Notice asked by Councillor Tilbury to the General
Manager - QWN1/23, are provided below:
1. The
Save Westleigh Park group asserts that the proposed Westleigh Park recreation
complex (including three sporting platforms) will bring an enormous increase
in traffic to the local area? Is this correct? What does
Council’s traffic modelling for the site outline and how will traffic
be managed?
Response
Westleigh Park will provide
much needed recreation facilities for our community. Council purchased
the site in 2016 for $21 million when Sydney Water had proposed to develop
the site into a residential housing development.
Responding to identified
community needs, Council’s proposal includes multi-use sporting fields
for various organised sports and amenities buildings, a playground and
passive recreation opportunities, car parking and a link between Quarter
Sessions Road and Sefton Road.
Based on the current masterplan
for the site, the Westleigh Park proposal will generate significantly less
traffic movements than previous planning proposals for the site.
Traffic modelling undertaken for the project shows that the road network,
with some planned junction upgrades, has adequate capacity to accommodate
additional traffic generated by park users, when fully developed. It is
important to note that sharing movements via two roads (Quarters Sessions
Road as the main access for the park and Sefton Road as the secondary access)
will benefit the wider community of Hornsby Shire as well as improve
evacuation routes for Westleigh in case of an emergency. Most of our
local roads with connections to parks and sporting fields generally carry
higher volumes than those expected in Sefton Road. Some roads near
Pennant Hills Park experience double the volume of traffic expected in Sefton
Road due to the fact that only one road is available in and out of the area. It
is also important to note that the facilities planned for Westleigh Park (when
fully developed) will generate about 40% of the traffic generated by the
facilities at Pennant Hills Park.
Through access from the park to Sefton will be limited to
ensure that the impacts on Sefton Road residents are minimised, whilst
balancing traffic loads across the entire area for the benefit of all the
community. This will be achieved with the installation of a locked gate(s)
at appropriate locations within the internal road system. The gated
system will be incorporated as part of the park management system to minimise
the impact on local residents. The gate system will allow Council to
limit access to the park to peak times of the park and emergency use. This
will provide improved benefits to the wider community of Westleigh.
2. The
Save Westleigh Park group alleges that the Sefton/Chilvers Road intersection
is currently exceeding capacity. Is this the case?
Response
The intersection of Sefton and Chilvers Road is not
operating near capacity. In fact, the traffic modelling shows that the
intersection has spare capacity into the future. Council has previously
committed to upgrade this intersection (traffic signals), independent to the
development of Westleigh Park, to improve traffic safety and pedestrian
amenity in this area. The upgrade of this intersection will benefit
local retailers and residents in the Thornleigh area by facilitating safe and
controlled access for vehicle and pedestrian movements travelling from Sefton
Road onto Chilvers Road and vice versa. The community will be
consulted regarding this proposal in due course.
3. The
Save Westleigh Park group alleges that when completed, the Westleigh Park
recreation complex will add another 1500 vehicles per day to Sefton
Road. Is this correct?
Response
Traffic modelling has assumed that access via Sefton Road
will be limited and that park access will be shared by the two approach
routes which includes Quarter Sessions Road. Council is mindful of the
potential impact of providing a normal traffic thoroughfare for park traffic
and is therefore proposing to limit the volume of traffic in Sefton
Road. This will be reinforced with a gate(s) at appropriate locations
within the internal road system. The gated system will be incorporated
as part of the park management system to minimise the impact on local
residents. The gate system will allow Council to limit access to the park to
peak times of the park and emergency use. This will provide improved benefits
to the wider community of Westleigh. The road remains well within its
capacity and certainly at less than what might be expected should residential
development within the precinct proceed.
4. The
Save Westleigh Park traffic petition alleges that as a result of the
Westleigh Park recreation complex, traffic lights will be installed at the
Sefton/Duffy Road intersection causing bumper to bumper traffic queues.
Is this correct? What is proposed for the Sefton/Duffy Road intersections?
Response
SWP
have outlined concern that a road connection through Sefton from Quarter
Sessions Road will draw traffic from the Duffy Road intersection, adding
congestion to the Chilvers road intersection, particularly if it is
signalised.
Traffic
modelling shows that the intersection of Sefton Road and Chilvers Road has
spare capacity into the future. Notwithstanding, Council has previously
committed to upgrade the intersection of Sefton Road with Chilvers Road
(traffic signals), independent to the development of Westleigh Park, to
improve traffic safety and pedestrian amenity in this area. The upgrade
of this intersection will benefit local retailers and residents in the
Thornleigh area by facilitating safe and controlled traffic and pedestrian
access from Sefton Road onto Chilvers Road.
In
relation to the intersection of Duffy Avenue and Chilvers Road,
Council’s study has identified the need to further upgrade the
intersection. This may involve but not be limited to additional
lanes in Duffy Avenue.
The
road network will operate to the benefit of the broader community from
Westleigh, offering an alternate access during emergency and balancing access
during normal periods of use of the local recreation facilities.
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