Northern Beaches Council’s much-anticipated draft blueprint for the planning, design and management of the Avalon Beach Village will go on public display in late January, following endorsement by Council yesterday evening.

The draft Place Plan focuses on public domain improvements over a ten year period.

These range from Dunbar Park playground improvements, through to the proposed redesign of the Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade intersection, and the introduction of cycleways in-line with the recently adopted Northern Beaches Bike Plan.

Mayor Regan said the My Place: Avalon project has placed heavy emphasis on extensive upfront community participation, encouraging all members of the community to work collectively with Council to shape the future of area and develop local solutions to local problems.

“What we have now is a comprehensive draft plan based on community feedback over a number of years that reflects community expectations and aspirations.

“The public exhibition of the draft Place Plan early next year will provide further opportunities for the broader Avalon Beach community to participate in the Place Planning process allowing the community to shape the final outcome.

“Our community consultation process will be broad and there will be many ways people can get involved.

“We plan to hold pop-up events during the public exhibition period; there will be an online community survey; people can comment on the project’s YourSay page and copies of the draft Plan will be available at the Mona Vale Customer Service Centre and Avalon Beach Library.”

The draft Place Plan identifies and considers the features that make Avalon Beach a special and unique place now and into the future. It identifies what the community values most and provides an action plan to allow changes that are aligned with the community’s current and future needs and aspirations.

“We know the proposed Old Barrenjoey Road and Avalon Parade intersection redesign and the inclusion of designated cycleways throughout Avalon Beach Village have been the focus of much debate in the community and some members have developed an Alternative Pedestrian Bike Path as an alternate option.

“We have included that alternate option in the public exhibition with the draft Place Plan.”

Included in the draft Place Plan is a proposal to establish a temporary one way south-bound shared zone of Old Barrenjoey Road north (between Avalon Parade and the entrance to the Woolworths car park) for a trial period minimum of six months.

This will allow the footpath to be widened and the street to be pedestrianised. The installation of street furniture and vegetation will also allow the community to use and experience the space in a new way.

“The trial will provide the opportunity to test the street design concept, so that the community can voice their views and provide feedback based on seeing the concept in real-life, before a permanent street design is endorsed,” Mayor Regan said.