Bega Valley Council scraps Merimbula CBD trial and backs revised works

Bega Valley Shire Council has rejected the exhibited Merimbula CBD traffic trial and backed a revised street layout after its ordinary meeting on 22 June, with councillors opting for new traffic and parking arrangements across Market Street, Beach Street and Sapphire Coast Drive.

The council voted not to proceed with the proposed traffic trial circulation scheme or the detailed design, following feedback from the community, stakeholder groups and the grant funding body. Instead, it endorsed a revised traffic configuration with mini roundabouts at Sapphire Coast Drive and Main Street, and at Main Street and Market Street, with intersection lighting at both sites.

Market Street will remain two-way along its full length. Council also kept left and right turns at the traffic lights northbound on Market Street, and approved a formal pedestrian crossing between Merimbula Drive and Main Street, with lighting and traffic monitoring.

Beach Street is also changing. Council backed two-way vehicle traffic along the street, 90-degree nose-to-kerb parking to replace the existing Beach Street car park, time-limited parking, and a raised trafficable pavement beside Twyford Hall.

The Beach Street package includes two disabled parking spaces, one taxi space and 33 regular spaces in the existing car park replacement area, plus 23 regular spaces east of the RSL memorial. The resolution also calls for kerbside parking on the north side of Beach Street from east of Alice Street, and a future CBD precinct 40km/h High Pedestrian Activity Area subject to Transport for NSW approval.

Council noted the revised configuration does not allow testing of its adopted Merimbula Transport Study recommendations or its previous resolution of 15 November 2023 on the optimum long-term arrangement. It also noted modelling shows increased traffic issues in the Merimbula CBD in future.

The resolution said the revised package will deliver extensive public space activation and a net increase in parking from the current arrangement of eight spaces. It also directs council to start the approval process for underground conduit from Market Street to Alice Street for future underground power.

Merimbula’s CBD plan drew strong public interest at the meeting. The Merimbula RSL and the Merimbula Chamber of Commerce were among the speakers opposed to the exhibited scheme, while other deputations backed community project proposals.

Council has now shifted away from the original trial design and towards a revised works program for the town centre. Traffic monitoring is to be used once the new layout is in place, and the Beach Street and Market Street changes will form part of the next stage of the project.