Council Decision on Abercrombie Street Upgrades – Feb 2012

by

The final resolution
of council can be found below:

ITEM 7.7 ABERCROMBIE STREET
IMPROVEMENTS – DARLINGTON VILLAGE – PROJECT SCOPE (S086664)

At the meeting of Council, it
was moved by Councillor Doutney, seconded by Councillor McInerney –

It is resolved that:

(A) Council endorse the design
scope for Abercrombie Street, Darlington as described in Option A in the
subject report and included in the drawings at Attachments A and B to the
subject report, amended to increase to include a flush road threshold treatment
at Ivy Street, for progression to construction documentation and tendering;

(B) Council note community
feedback and the City’s response regarding the developed design plans, as
detailed in Attachment C to the subject report;

(C) Council note the estimated
project cost of Option A and that additional funding will be required in the
2013-2016 Corporate Plan, as detailed in confidential Attachment D to the
subject report;

(D) Council note the additional
funds for inclusion of a flush road threshold treatment at Ivy Street of
approximately $40,000;

(E) the additional funds for
inclusion of a flush road threshold treatment at Ivy Street be included in
future corporate plans and a scoping report be prepared for Council. This
includes works to the north side of Abercrombie Street, paving from Abercrombie
Street to Ivy Lane, undergrounding of the northern side overhead wires and the
undergrounding of wires in front of the Glengarry Hotel; and

(F) Financial Implications,
Attachment D to the subject report, remain confidential in accordance with
Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993.

Carried unanimously.

Source: Meeting Minutes – 20 February 2012 | PDF 229Kb Page 28
& 29

Letter from Clover Moore re Abercrombie Street Upgrade on 19 April 2012

I refer to your email about the City’s proposed upgrade to Abercrombie Street. I apologise for the delay in responding.  

At its meeting on 13 February, Council voted to expand the scope of this project.  

City staff will now develop a design proposal for the northern side of Abercrombie Street, including the intersection of Abercrombie and Lawson Streets. We will make our designs available to the public and ask the community for feedback later in the year.  

I note your five recommendations for the upgrade. Rob Mueck, the City’s Project Manager tells me that: 

  • the southern footpath between Ivy and Lawson Street is now part of the expanded proposal; 
  • Council has resolved to undertake a scoping report for the northern side of Abercrombie Street, between Shepherd Street and Ivy Lane. This will include the intersection of Abercrombie and Lawson Streets as well as the area outside the Glengarry Hotel; 
  • the project now includes a raised road threshold at Ivy Street. The kerb width will need to be altered or realigned as the threshold will be level with the pavement surface on both sides of the street; 
  • City staff will consider the feasibility of providing level access from Little Eveleigh Street to Shepherd Street in the scoping report; and 
  • City staff will also address placing all electrical connections under the ground in their scoping report.  

If you would like to speak with a Council officer about the Abercrombie Street upgrade, you can contact Rob on 9265 9333. 

Below you can find the
background to this decision:

Council Upgrade
Options

These were considered by Council’s Environment & Heritage Committee on
Monday 13 February 2012. You can see the documents for the committee on http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Council/MeetingsAndCommittees/2012/Committiees/130212/environment.asp

The report links are:

Abercrombie Street Improvements –
Darlington Village – Project Scope | PDF 89Kb

Some Concerns Raised

Following feedback Geoff and Lyn Turnbull sent
the following email to the committee and these concerns were referred to the
CEO for consideration before the 20 February Council Meeting:

Dear Councillors

We write to support in principle Option A being
proposed by Officers for the Abercrombie Street Improvements to be considered
by the Environment and Heritage Committee on 13 February 2012.

This is a good first step, but there is concern
from those we have talked to that contrary to the report this option does not
“consolidate the Darlington Village precinct”, as the treatment being proposed
has not explored treatments for both sides of the road but only for the area on
the Southern side. There are also some concerns about some omissions from the
Southern side plans.

We urge the Committee to approve the necessary
funds to provide a more comprehensive rollout for this village centre.

Issue 1 

The City’s responses to Community Feedback note
that “subject to approval of budget, the proposal could extend to the southern
footpath between Ivy Street and Lawson Street” but no recommendation for this
is contained within the report.

To create a whole of village treatment, the
treatment proposed for the Southern footpath needs to be also made to cover the
other retail areas on the Northern side of Abercrombie and around the Glengarry
Hotel. These retail areas are situated on corners so paved corner treatments
around Shepherd Lane, Ivy Street and Ivy Lane would unify them into the village
if finished with a similar paved treatment.

Recommendation:

  • That
    the committee requests Council Officers to prepare a proposal for the
    upgrade of the northern side of Abercrombie Street, between Shepherd
    Street and Ivy Lane, that would include complimentary works for the
    non-widened side of the street to incorporate the northern side of the
    upgraded street into a village feel around the retail areas on both sides
    of Abercrombie St. This proposal should also deal with a recommendation
    for the area outside the Glengarry Hotel.

Issue 2

We welcome the raised thresholds on Shepherd Lane,
but do not understand why this treatment has not been proposed for Ivy Street.

Recommendation:

  • That
    Council Officers explore the feasibility for a raised threshold at Ivy
    Street.

Issue 3

If a raised threshold is not possible pedestrian
flow at high peak volume times will be slowed if someone needs to seek out the
ramps in the crowd.

Recommendations:

  • That
    the committee request Council Officers to prepare a proposal to increase
    the width of the kerb ramps to the full footpath width to accommodate
    pedestrian traffic use of the ramp, rather than for someone needing to
    seek the ramp out in a crowd.
  • Council
    Officers should also explore the possibility of changing the alignment of
    the blister curb at Ivy Street to the west  to facilitate wider kerb
    ramps.

Issue 4

It is not clear why the South side treatment
currently proposed should not extend to Ivy Lane rather than cut off a few
metres before it.

Recommendation:

  • That
    the work on the Southern side be extended to Ivy Lane and that Council
    Officers explore the feasibility for a raised threshold in Ivy Lane to
    provide level access across the entire route from Little Eveleigh Street
    to Shepherd Street.

Issue 5

The report refers only to undergrounding of
electricity on the Southern side of Abercrombie Street. It does not make clear
if delivery to the northern side is to also be undergrounded. Electricity
supply on the Northern side of Abercrombie Street is delivered via the Southern
side. Electricity on the Northern side should also be undergrounded in
subsequent works. This would complement the undergrounding in Lawson Street and
provide undergrounding along the entire high pedestrian movement route.

Recommendations

  • All
    electrical connections from the Southern to Northern side (including in
    front of the Glengarry Hotel) are to be undergrounded.
  • Undergrounding
    of the Northern side of Abercrombie Street is to be explored in the
    recommendation for issue 1.

Finally we support the suggestion that a seat at
Darlington shops be dedicated to Trevor Davies. We also support the reuse of
the sandstone curbs in the widening.

We trust that it will be possible for the committee
to consider this written feedback when this matter comes before you. At this
stage it looks like Geoff will be unable to attend the committee and speak to
this matter but he is happy to provide any further clarification that might be
helpful.

Regards,

Geoffrey and Lyn Turnbull

Source:  Item 7.7 Attachment A | PDF 89 Kb

Council Officers Response in the Relevant Information for Council

SUBJECT: Information
Relevant To Item 7.7 – Abercrombie Street Improvements – Darlington
Village – Project Scope – At Council 20 February 2012

ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION

It is resolved that:

  • (A) Council endorse the design scope for
    Abercrombie Street, Darlington as described in Option A in the subject report
    and included in the drawings at Attachments A and B to the subject report, amended to increase to include a flush road
    threshold treatment at Ivy Street    , for progression to construction
    documentation and tendering;
  • (B) Council note community feedback and
    the City’s response regarding the developed design plans, as detailed in
    Attachment C to the subject report;
  • (C) Council note the estimated project
    cost of option A and that additional funding will be required in the 2013-2016 Corporate Plan, as
    detailed in confidential Attachment D to the subject report;
  • (D) Council note the additional funds for inclusion of a flush road
    threshold treatment at Ivy Street of approximately $40,000;     and
  • (E) the Financial Implications, being
    Attachment D to the subject report, remain confidential in accordance with
    Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993.

Background

A recommendation was proposed to the
meeting of the Environment and Heritage Committee held on Monday 13 February to
endorse the design scope for Abercrombie Street, Darlington Village. The
project sought to deliver projects from the Newtown, Darlington, Erskineville
and Camperdown Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Plan 2010 that enhanced
amenity of the local area and provided a safe and convenient walking and cycle
access.

Community consultation and exhibition of
the scope of works and concept plan was held in

October 2011.

Reference was made to an email submitted
by Mr Turnbull on 12 February 2012 (attached)

Below is a summary of issues raised in
the email:

  • That the southern footpath between Ivy
    Street and Lawson Street be recommended for inclusion in the proposal.

The project prioritised the southern
side of Abercrombie Street to address the higher pedestrian activity between
Redfern Station and Sydney University, and the commercial premises.

Footpath works between Ivy Street and
Lawson Street (southern side) are included in the proposed scope as outlined in
the scoping report.

  • That a design proposal be prepared for
    the upgrade of the northern side of Abercrombie Street, between Shepherd Street
    and Ivy Lane.

A second stage of works for a
comprehensive upgrade of the northern side of Abercrombie Street could be
considered for inclusion in future Corporate Plans, and is discussed further below.

  • That a raised threshold at Ivy Street
    be considered.

The feasibility of raised thresholds at
intersections was investigated during design development and two raised
thresholds are currently proposed at Shepherd Lane. A raised threshold at Ivy
Street was not considered feasible due to stormwater drainage constraints and
Roads Authority technical requirements.

  • If a raised threshold at Ivy Street is
    not possible, that the width of kerb ramps to the full footpath width be
    increased, and the possibility of changing the kerb alignment be explored.

Pram ramps at Ivy Street will be
reviewed with a view to making them as wide as possible in accordance with site
constraints and access requirements.

The kerb at Ivy Street is required to
remain in the current alignment to enable stormwater flows to travel around the
corner into Abercrombie Street.

The current design could incorporate a
road level threshold treatment at Ivy Street. A detailed cost plan has not been
prepared for this item. However, a benchmark review indicates that in the order
of $40,000 additional funds would be required to incorporate into the current
scope of works. This is recommended.

  • That the project scope of work on
    Lawson Street to Ivy Lane be extended.

The extent of new pavement in Lawson
Street responds to the Abercrombie Street alignment. The new pavement will
align with the footpath on Abercrombie Street.

Paving works in Lawson Street, between
Ivy Lane and current proposed extent of works at Abercrombie Street
intersection, could be included in a second stage of works, discussed further
below.

  • That undergrounding electricity supply
    on the northern side of Abercrombie Street and on the southern side in front of
    the Glengarry Hotel (corner of Lawson Street) be considered.

The current scheme proposes
undergrounding to the southern side of Abercrombie Street only as the existing
overhead wires and electrical supply are located on this side. Overhead wires
on the northern side of Abercrombie Street consist only of building connections
and do not interfere with the established tree canopy.

Feasibility of undergrounding of the
building connections on the northern side of Abercrombie Street could be
considered in a second stage of works, discussed further below.

Undergrounding of wires and paving works
to the southern side of Abercrombie Street outside Glengarry Hotel could be
considered in a second stage of works. This is discussed further below.

  • That a seat be dedicated to Trevor
    Davies.

Future dedications will be referred to
Council’s Plaques group for consideration.

  • That the reuse of sandstone kerbs in
    the footpath widening be considered.

Existing sandstone kerbs are being
re-used.

A detailed cost plan has not been
prepared for the additional work requested. However, a benchmark review
indicates additional funds would be required. Should an expanded scope for the
precinct be considered, it is recommended that it be implemented as a future
stage to the project, rather than incorporated into the current project, for
the reasons outlined below:

  • If incorporated into the current
    project, the design program would increase by approximately eight months to
    allow for procurement, design and consultation. The construction phase would
    increase from 5 months to approximately 9 months, with a higher level of
    disruption to the local community during the extended construction stage
  • A future stage of the project could be
    funded and implemented separately to incorporate the additional works. This
    will allow the identified areas of highest priority to be implemented to the
    earliest timetable. The additional works could be considered for inclusion in
    future Corporate Plans, design and consultation undertaken and a scoping report
    prepared for Council.

Attachment A – Correspondence dated 12
February 2012

Michael Leyland, Director City Projects
and Property

Prepared by: Lisa Dodd, Landscape
Architect

TRIM Document Number: 2012/044643

Approved Monica Barone, Chief Executive Officer

Source:
Memo Relevant to Item 7.7 | PDF
80 Kb    

At Council

Following feedback Councillor
Doutney, at the Council Meeting, made an addition to the resolution which
recorded the second stage in the minutes and asked for “a scoping report be prepared
for Council. This includes works to the north side of Abercrombie Street,
paving from Abercrombie Street to Ivy Lane, undergrounding of the northern side
overhead wires and the undergrounding of wires in front of the Glengarry Hotel;”
(see full wording of resolution at the top of this page)

Follow Up Issues

The works in the first scoping
report will now be prepared for tender.

Residents may need to keep enquiring
about the stage 2 scoping until something is prepared for community
consultation just in case it does a long way back in Council’s priorities.

The council “Relevant to” did
not really clarify what was planned regarding the electricity supply from the
corner of Ivy Street and Abercrombie. This electricity supply is not just to
buildings across the other side of Abercrombie Street.

Also the “Relevant to” by
explaining why changes could not be made at the Ivy Street South footpath references
the need to manage storm water on the road which indicates that the new
treatment does not address the flooding problem at this intersection which impacts
on the high pedestrian traffic. This is a major cause for concern.

Prepared by Geoff Turnbull
REDWatch Spokesperson – Updated 23 February 2012