Council has been successful in receiving much needed funds from the NSW Government under the Safer Speeds Program for 2023-24. Council proposes to use this money towards mitigating several safety issues in the Earlwood Town Centre.

The Safer Speeds Program specifically targets high pedestrian activity and local areas where crashes occur, with funding introduced as part of the NSW Government’s commitment to reduce accidents on local roads. Programs of this sort are very effective, by implementing relatively minor road improvements, we can save the community a greater cost burden.

Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit in the Earlwood town centre from 50km/hr to 40km/hr to improve safety of pedestrians. This can be achieved by installing ‘40km/hr High Pedestrian Activity Area (HPAA)’ signage. To self-regulate the new speed limit, various traffic calming devices on Homer Street, William Street, Clarke Street and adjoining side streets are proposed as discussed below and detailed in the attached plans.

The above designs require No Stopping zones to be installed in line with Australian Standards and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) Technical Guidelines, with a loss of one (1) on-street parking space in Clarke Street.

Also note that Council had engaged with shop/property owners on Clarke Street regarding obstructions to shop frontages and pedestrians from tree foliage and outgrown tree roots.

Arborist investigations revealed that the 15 fig trees in Clarke Street and Earlwood Avenue (refer to page 7 and 8 of Plan No CBC01907) are likely to create damage to the footpath and are no longer providing the amenity they once did. The new raised pedestrian crossing on Clarke Street will further impact on the viability of those existing trees.

Council will therefore replace those trees with a more appropriate species Lagerstroemia indica (Crepe Myrtle) which are unlikely to cause similar issues. This is a sustainable long-term solution to the Clarke Street retail precinct.

This tree replacement program will be completed in conjunction with the HPAA works.