This week Manly Council announced the winning tenderers for the long-drawn out Manly2015 process of the Oval Car Park and Whistler Street site. Oval Car Park The design and construction of a 500 space car park underneath a reinstated Manly Oval was awarded to Abergeldie for around $28m. This is well within Council’s budget of $34m which was originally set aside for a 760 space car park. Many local experts still question whether $28m is a realistic budget given the complexities of the site – only time will tell. Many questions still remain about the management of traffic in Sydney Road and the proposed use of a roundabout at Eustace Street. These issues will need to be addressed if RMS approval is to be gained. The Save Manly Oval Alliance has vowed to continue to fight the car park proposal. Whistler Street Site The proposal for the Whistler Street site was a surprise, taking a new look at what could be done within the triangle space. Although KPMG’s original report stated that the Whistler Street car park site would be valued at around $16m, well-known Architects FJMT for Built Development Group & Athas Holdings, turned the design on its head producing an innovative approach that utilised the total site (Library & old car park) and offering Council a two-level library on the 5th & 6th floors, 50 car parking spaces (intended for disabled and 30 minute parking only) and a ‘theatre’ which in fact is two small 80 seat cinemas. Council will also receive a cash payment of $37m from the deal in exchange for a 99 year lease for both the car park and library sites. Already dubbed ‘the glasshouse’ by locals because of the extensive use of glass in the design, the new development will include retail at ground level, sixty-eight apartments, commercial space and library, meeting spaces and council offices. The General Manager of Manly Council said that work is expected to start on the oval car park in October this year and take about 12 months to complete. Once operating the Whistler Street site will be redeveloped with a time-frame of 2 years to complete. During this time the Library will be re-located in temporary accommodation yet to be decided. No opportunity has been provided by Council for Councillor or public feedback on the new Whistler Street plan. Let’s hope the developer has the sense to undertake community input before their Development Application is lodged. Both projects will require the approval of the Joint Regional Planning Panel.
10 Comments
Bruce Webb
17/4/2016 10:05:56 am
ok, so now the fight needs to be taken to the JRPP. Complaints need to be lodged now as it is no good once the decision is made. They need to be made aware of how this whole debacle has been handled by this belligerent council.
Reply
Jim Mitchell
17/4/2016 12:27:01 pm
Looks like a really good outcome the ratepayers receive $37 mill and a new library enough to build the new car park under the oval with $12 mill left over perhaps to build a larger car park with an increased number of spaces so desperately need on the edge of town.
Reply
Irene Callahan
17/4/2016 12:51:31 pm
Re Oval Car Park: is it a fixed price contract and are all the necessary road-works included?
Reply
Bob McLean
17/4/2016 03:50:14 pm
1) Sydney Rd is a bottleneck at busy times as it is before you entertain putting a 500 space carpark in the immediate vicinity. You wouldn't believe all 5 liberal councillors are too myopic to see this.
Reply
Lisle
17/4/2016 04:49:01 pm
Is Athas Holdings the same people who did the Rialto Lane Upgrade? I'ld be very careful if they are. For instance, no one thought the Peninsula complex was of any concern in their plans, so didn't bother to tell us. The Council's contractors jackhammered through one of our car park entrance slabs. They created a HOLE through to the Peninsula Manly Council Carpark below. Difficult for the General Manager to hide a hole. Also Peninsula residents were unable to use their carpark from January 11 until last week. Then the plan included moving loading zones to the Peninsula side of the lane without any consultation with us.. No one thought about the grease removal pipes from Le Galleria, or wondered what the louvres were for on the Peninsula building. (Ventilation for the Council carpark! Now we're waiting for a truck/vehicle to drive through a shop window because there are no gutters.
Reply
John Casey
18/4/2016 11:05:49 am
Its all getting a bit complex.Is an approach to the Land & Environment Court still the way to go?
Reply
Candy Bingham
19/4/2016 11:40:23 am
You're right John it is complex! Given the Council is now leasing both the Whister street car park AND library site, the cash component is far greater ($37m). Therefore many are asking why can't a car park be built under the total site? It would be far less risky than under the Oval and provide more convenient parking. Certainly worth exploring.
Reply
18/4/2016 09:21:09 pm
Hi there guys,
Reply
Candy Bingham
19/4/2016 11:45:17 am
Good question John about why the negativity. Suggest you read the ongoing saga: http://www.goodformanly.com.au/latest-news/category/manly%202015%20plan#.VxWLVZN96gR
Reply
26/4/2016 03:06:42 pm
Looking at the futuristic impression of the replacement building to the Whistler St Carpark, the plans for a tree-less block on the Telstra site, not to mention the Manly Oval Car Park Folly, I am wondering what, exactly, does Manly Council see for the future of this seaside 'village' and its village green. Last week the writer of a letter protesting about the so-called improvements planned for Bondi asked, 'Do you want it to become another Chatswood?' A very astute comment.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorCandy Bingham, Deputy Mayor & Manly Ward Councillor on Northern Beaches Council. Background in marketing, public relations and community engagement. Author of five business books. Former Lady Mayoress of Sydney. Aka Candy Tymson. Categories
All
........................................
View Videos
|