Local Transport Forum - 19 Oct 2026 11:00 AM

Topics

• London Street closure set to stay as Forum seeks a better Simmons Street compromise
  The London Street trial closure will become permanent, while the Simmons Street arrangement faces a fresh design review after residents raised access concerns.
  The decision changes vehicle and pedestrian movement in the Newtown–Enmore area and leaves a significant local access issue unresolved.
• Cambridge Street traffic rose 55 per cent during Newtown–Enmore street trials
  Cambridge Street traffic increased from 1,576 to 2,445 vehicles per day, with recorded speeds marginally above the 40 km/h limit.
  The figures provide a concrete measure of the traffic redistribution associated with the trial closures and may shape the planned network review.
• Annandale laneway to get parking bans after emergency and service-access complaints
  No Parking and No Stopping zones were approved on both sides of McCarthy Lane following complaints about obstructed deliveries, waste collection, patient transport and ambulance access.
  The restrictions address a direct access and safety problem but will affect residents, visitors and service vehicles using the laneway.

Decisions

• London Street closure to become permanent
  The Forum supported making the London Street trial closure permanent, with detailed public-domain planning and design to follow. The trial ran from December 2025 to May 2026.
  The closure will continue to provide additional pedestrian space and change vehicle access in the London Street area.
• Further review of Simmons Street partial closure
  Rather than immediately making the existing arrangement permanent, the Forum agreed that officers should examine alternative partial-closure configurations that improve access into and out of adjoining streets.
  Residents and businesses affected by the current access arrangements will have further opportunity for changes to the street layout.
• Audley Street 40 km/h pedestrian safety treatment approved
  The detailed design plan for a 40 km/h High Pedestrian Activity Area between New Canterbury Road and Trafalgar Street, Petersham, was approved.
  The treatment is intended to improve pedestrian safety on Audley Street.
• McCarthy Lane parking restrictions approved
  No Parking and No Stopping zones on both sides of McCarthy Lane, Annandale, were approved as shown in the report’s Figure 2.
  The restrictions will affect parking, loading and vehicle access for residents, tradespeople, delivery vehicles, waste services and other users of the laneway.
• Richardson’s Crescent safety findings noted
  The Forum received and noted the pedestrian and traffic safety investigation findings for Richardson’s Crescent and approved wayfinding signage to improve awareness of the pedestrian crossing and roundabout.
  The signage is intended to improve driver and pedestrian awareness around the crossing and roundabout.

Discussion

• Newtown–Enmore traffic impacts
  Traffic increased on Cambridge, Belmore, Station Street North, Reiby and Marian Streets during the London Street and Simmons Street trials. Cambridge Street recorded the largest increase, from 1,576 to 2,445 vehicles per day, with an 85th-percentile speed of 41.7 km/h in a 40 km/h zone.
  Residents may experience increased traffic and speeding concerns on surrounding streets, although other surveyed locations remained broadly within projected volumes and the environmental capacity of local roads.
• Community concerns about Simmons Street
  Speakers questioned the representativeness of engagement results and reported changes to daily routines and access. Forum members considered the current treatment to function largely as an extension of outdoor dining and supported examining alternatives.
  The review may lead to a revised street arrangement with better vehicle access for Simmons Street residents and neighbouring streets.
• McCarthy Lane access and parking conflict
  Residents and public speakers reported extended parking, difficulty for delivery and service vehicles, limited visitor parking for larger vehicles, and problems for waste collection, patient transport and ambulances.
  The approved restrictions are intended to address obstruction but may reduce available kerbside parking and require residents to adjust loading and visitor arrangements.
• Growing demand for on-street bike parking
  The Forum considered a report stating that share-bike and food-delivery use has grown rapidly across the Inner West, contributing to footpath clutter and pedestrian-amenity impacts.
  Any resulting bike-parking changes could affect footpath space, cycling access and the operation of food-delivery services.
• Local access and compliance matters
  The Forum requested investigation of illegal parking in No Stopping areas on Sydenham Road during AFL game days, a possible widening of the Richardson Crescent and Concordia Club car park driveway layback, and safety issues at the Victoria Street hospital driveway entrance.
  These follow-ups concern event-day congestion, vehicle access, kerb damage and safer entry to a hospital facility.

Impacts

• London Street will remain closed following the trial, subject to detailed public-domain planning and design.
• Simmons Street will be reviewed again, with officers to investigate options that improve access to adjoining streets.
• Traffic conditions may continue to change on Cambridge, Belmore, Station Street North, Reiby and Marian Streets.
• New parking restrictions will apply on both sides of McCarthy Lane, Annandale.
• A 40 km/h pedestrian safety treatment will proceed on Audley Street, Petersham.
• Wayfinding signage will be installed or progressed around the Richardson’s Crescent pedestrian crossing and roundabout.
• Council officers will investigate event-day parking enforcement and several driveway and kerb-access concerns.

Places

• London Street, Newtown–Enmore (road and project area)
  Trial closure supported for permanent retention.
• Simmons Street, Newtown (road)
  Partial-closure arrangement to be further reviewed.
• Cambridge Street, Newtown (road)
  Recorded the largest reported traffic-volume increase during the trial period.
• McCarthy Lane, Annandale (laneway)
  No Parking and No Stopping zones approved on both sides.
• Audley Street, Petersham (road)
  40 km/h High Pedestrian Activity Area treatment approved between New Canterbury Road and Trafalgar Street.
• Richardson’s Crescent, Tempe (road and roundabout)
  Pedestrian and traffic safety findings noted; wayfinding signage approved.
• Sydenham Road, Marrickville (road and event precinct)
  Further investigation of illegal AFL game-day parking requested.
• Victoria Street, Marrickville (road and hospital access)
  Hospital driveway entrance concern referred for investigation.

Next

• Prepare detailed public-domain planning and design for the permanent London Street closure.
  Following the October 2026 Forum decision; no completion date stated.
• Examine alternative partial-closure configurations for Simmons Street that improve access to adjoining streets.
  Follow-up by Council officers; discussion was expected to continue through the November 2026 Council process.
• Progress the approved Audley Street 40 km/h High Pedestrian Activity Area design.
  After design approval; implementation date not stated.
• Progress wayfinding signage for the Richardson’s Crescent crossing and roundabout.
  After approval; installation date not stated.
• Ask Council Rangers to review Sydenham Road AFL game-day enforcement and consider additional compliance action.
  Follow-up requested; date not stated.
• Discuss whether the Richardson Crescent and Concordia Club car park driveway layback can be widened as part of possible resurfacing works.
  During consideration of the car-park resurfacing project.
• Investigate the Victoria Street hospital driveway entrance concern and determine whether Council action is possible.
  Follow-up by officers; date not stated.

Extract

Local Transport Forum Meeting 19 October 2026 1 Minutes of Meeting Meeting commenced at 11:00 AM ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY BY CHAIRPERSON I acknowledge the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora nation on whose country we are meeting today, and their elders past and present. COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT Councillor Victor Macri Councillor – Midjuburi – Marrickville Ward (Chair) Councillor Liz Atkins Councillor – Damun – Stanmore Ward Rebecca Fernandez Representative for Kobi Shetty MP, Member for Balmain Jamie van Geldermalsen Representing the Newtown Electorate Office Vinoth Srinivasan Transport for NSW (TfNSW) Colin Jones Representative for Inner West Bicycle Coalition (IWBC) Julius V...