Minutes of Local Traffic Committee Meeting

BYRON SHIRE COUNCIL

Local Traffic Committee Meeting Minutes 29 January 2019

Report of the Local Traffic Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 29 January 2019

File No: I2019/89

Meeting Commenced: 10:35am

PRESENT:

Councillor: Cr Basil Cameron

Roads and Maritime Services Representative: Katherine Boulton (via Skype)

Police: Sgt Michael Stewart

Tamara Smith MP

Staff: Evan Elford and Andrew Pearce

Apologies:

S/C Chris Davis

Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest raised. or

Adoption of Minutes from Previous Meetings

Committee Recommendation:

That the minutes of the Extraordinary Local Traffic Committee Meeting held between 22 -29 November 2018 be confirmed.

(Smith/Cameron)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried unanimously.

Matters Arising

There were no matters arising.

Outstanding Issues/Resolutions

None.

Regulatory Matters

Report No. 6.1 Council Resolution 18-626 - Free Motor Bike Parking in Byron

File No: I2018/2413

COUNCIL RESOLUTION 18-626

1. That Council note the status and proposed actions relating to the parking schemes in Mullumbimby, Bangalow and Brunswick Heads.

2. That Council receive a further report detailing the performance review of the parking schemes at Mullumbimby, Bangalow and Brunswick Heads at the April 2019 Council meeting.

3. That within the current inactive zones associated with current parking layouts and existing kerb blisters, Council undertake a 12 month trial to provide free motorcycle and scooter parking spaces in the following:

· Western edge of the beach front car park at the north end of Jonson St.

· On southern edge of Bay St in front of the Beach Hotel.

· The eastern end of Lateen Lane (aka Lawson Lane in Google maps)

· Council car park at the north end of Middleton St.

4. That the current parking spaces for motorbike / scooter parking in Wategos be provided free of charge during the trial

In respect of items 1 and 2 above, no action is required from LTC.

The report below outlines the recommended process to role out items 3 and 4 above and seeks concurrence from LTC for the necessary changes in parking signage and line marking to enact the resolution.

INSTALLATION PROCESS

Council resolved to prove a 12 month trial to provide free motorcycle and scooter parking at the above locations and convert the metered motorcycle spaces at Wategos to free parking during the trial period.

Prior to rolling out the free motorcycle parking the concept design is being submitted to LTC for regulatory advice. This is due to:

· The spaces being located within a number of Parking Schemes within Byron,

· The conversion of Pay Parking to Free Parking, and

· The changes proposed to regulatory signs and lines.

CONCEPT DESIGN LAYOUT

The snippet below represent to concept layouts. Note linemarking and drawings not to scale but still reflect the number of spaces proposed – 25 spaces. Only 10 each are proposed in Lanteen Lane and Bay St to ensure adequate sight lines and clearance for cars and pedestrians.

PAY PARKING SCHEME IMPACTS

The proposed trial is not expected to significantly impact the pay parking schemes in Byron Bay.

Currently motor bikes are required to pay the metered pay parking fee for using a standard car space. Introducing 25 new motor bike spaces will free up 25 car spaces for cars.

At Wategos there are currently 12 motor bike spaces that are metered. Anecdotally, these spaces are not in high demand. Converting them to free parking is not expected to significantly impact Pay Parking revenue.

LTC is requested to support changes to regulatory parking signage and line marking as detailed in the concepts and /or as deemed necessary to implement items 3 and 4 of Council resolution 18-626.

Committee Comments

None.

Management Comments

There were no management comments.

Committee Recommendation:

That Council endorse modifications to regulatory parking signage and line marking in Byron Bay and Wategos Beach area deemed necessary to implement the proposed motorcycle parking identified in Council Resolution 18-626.

(Cameron/Davis)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried unanimously.

Report No. 6.2 Bayshore Drive Roundabout Project - Traffic Management

File No: I2019/48

The Bayshore Drive Roundabout project involved implementing some additional traffic control measures to effectively manage the traffic during construction. When traffic measures are implemented as part of a roadworks project, they do not require LTC approval. These measures included:-

1. No Right Turn into Melaleuca Drive when driving eastbound on Ewingsdale Road. This was implemented as a result of the No U-Turn signs not being effective enough to reduce the number of ‘shortcutting’ motorists when traffic was banking up on Bayshore Drive as requested by Police.

Now that the roundabout has been constructed, the Bayshore Drive intersection functionality will improve and the shortcut movements should significantly reduce. To assist local residents access their properties down Melaleuca Drive, it is suggested the signage revert to No U-Turn and continue to be monitored to ensure this level of regulation is effective. This intersection may be modified as part of the Ewingsdale Road duplication project, at which time modelling will confirm the arrangement and formation of the road at this location.

2. No Parking at the entrance to Banksia Drive on both sides of the road as per the attached plan. This was implemented as a result of the additional traffic on Banksia Drive and the resulting congestion at the entrance to Banksia Drive.

This temporary arrangement was not removed at the completion of the roundabout works as it has been deemed to be an effective traffic control measure at the entrance to Banksia Drive in making it safer for the large number of vehicles using this intersection. Therefore, it is proposed to remain in place until such time as the entrance to Banksia Drive is modified as part of the Ewingsdale Road duplication project. At this time it is anticipated that this intersection (subject to modelling and detailed design) may become a left in, left out only intersection, which would negate the need for the additional space created by No Parking. At this time, it could be reviewed and possibly removed.

Committee Comments

None

Management Comments

There were no management comments.

Committee Recommendation:

1. That the signs at Melaleuca Drive remain permanently as No U-Turn until such time as the entrance to Melaleuca Drive and the formation of Ewingsdale Road is upgraded or modified as part of the Ewingsdale Road duplication project.

2. That the No Parking at the entrance to Banksia Drive remain in place until such time as the entrance to Banksia Drive is upgraded or modified as part of the Ewingsdale Road duplication project.

3. That both of these locations are monitored and reviewed as part of the Ewingsdale Road duplication project to ensure the relevancy of the traffic control measures in place as the project progresses.

4. That the businesses with road frontage that has been directly affected by the No Parking on Banksia Drive be notified of the permanency of the arrangement.

(Smith/Boulton)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried unanimously.

Report No. 6.3 Signage requests from Compliance Team - Lighthouse Road and No Name Lane, Byron Bay

File No: I2019/52

BACKGROUND

Council’s Parking Enforcement team have described the following traffic issues:

Lighthouse Road Byron Bay

Vehicles are constantly parking along the southern side of the road between No Name Lane and Lee Lane. Drivers are often parking their vehicles in a dangerous position and enforcement officers are unable to issue infringements without parking signage.

Council receives numerous complaints and requests from the public to have something done about this stretch of road. It is recommended that the installation of “No Stopping” signs and yellow line marking where considered appropriate would make this road safer for the public. The images below show how close the vehicles are to the road.

Figure 1. Lighthouse Road near Lee Lane

Figure 2. Lighthouse Road near Lee Lane, looking southwest.

No Name Road (Unnamed Road 10)

The entire lane way has become a popular area for vehicles parking and camping on both sides of the lane and on corners making it narrow and difficult for residents to enter and exit their properties. In addition, if an emergency vehicle such as a fire truck had to enter it would be virtually impossible for them to perform their duties as access would not be possible.

It is recommended that the installation of “No Stopping” signs and yellow line marking where considered appropriate would make this road safer for the public and provide for better access for emergency vehicles.

Figure 3. Un-named Road 10

Figure 4. Un-named Road 10

Figure 5. Un-named Road 10

LOCALITY PLAN

Committee Comments

The committee noted that these types of line marking issues come up regularly, and discussed how these items can be dealt with more efficiently in future. Parking compliance in this area can be enforced through NSW Road rules however council’s enforcement team require signage and line marking for most effective enforcement.

Member Boulton asserted the need for regulatory items to come before the LTC. For the current item, the LTC are to receive a design drawing showing the line marking and signage points that were implemented.

Management Comments

There were no management comments.

Committee Recommendation:

That Council install “No Stopping” signs and yellow line marking where considered appropriate in Lighthouse Road and No Name Road Byron Bay to improve road safety.

(Boulton/Cameron)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried unanimously.

Report No. 6.4 Byron Bay Transport Interchange - Regulatory Signage

File No: I2019/83

This report seeks LTC concurrence and endorsement for the proposed regulatory signs and line marking for the Byron Bay Transport Interchange project.

This project is a Transport for NSW project, being delivered by Sydney Trains. The road area is located on Transport for NSW land however; Council and the Local Traffic Committee are still required to endorse the line marking and regulatory signage through the LTC process.

A detailed pavement marking and signage plan will be available at the meeting in A2 format.

Committee Comments

Member Smith has received many concerns from residents. Member Smith raised questions about pedestrian movement. A presentation from designers to understand the development and how it flows is necessary before any recommendations can be made.

Member Boulton suggested postponing Report 6.5 until further information is provided. This item to be deferred to an extraordinary meeting, and consideration of a site visit, and receive further information from RMS.

Member Smith requested experts from the Masterplan Committee, the Bypass Project team, and a representative from Transport NSW attend.

Management Comments

There were no management comments.

RECOMMENDATION:

Item deferred.

Report No. 6.5 Railway Hotel and Lawson Street South Carparks - Regulatory Signage

File No: I2019/86

This report seeks LTC concurrence and endorsement for the proposed regulatory signs and line marking for the Railway Hotel and Lawson Street South Carparks, Byron Bay.

This project is a Transport for NSW project, being delivered by Sydney Trains. The car park area is located mostly on Transport for NSW land, with a small portion on Council land however; Council and the Local Traffic Committee are still required to endorse the line marking and regulatory signage through the LTC process.

A detailed pavement marking and signage plan will be available at the meeting in A2 format.

Committee Comments

Member Boulton has not seen the detailed pavement and signage plan.

Member Smith has concerns about pedestrian safety and connectivity linkages.

Member Cameron raised questions about the number of signs and their appropriateness. There is a need to see how this project links into a total vision. This item to be deferred to an extraordinary meeting. Consideration of a site visit, and to receive further information from RMS.

Management Comments

There were no management comments.

RECOMMENDATION:

Item deferred.

Matters for Traffic Engineering Advice

Report No. 7.1 Adoption of Constitution for Local Traffic Committee

File No: I2019/50

At the Local Traffic Committee meeting of 16 January 2018, the committee discussed matters in relation to Report No.6.1 – Council resolutions and Recommendation Processes.

From those discussions, a draft constitution for the Local Traffic Committee was developed and presented to the Local Traffic Committee at the 15^th May meeting where the Local Traffic Committee recommended:

That the draft constitution attached to this report is noted and the committee comments be provided to finalise the constitution document prior to adoption by Council.

At the 23August 2018 ordinary Council meeting, Council resolved as follows:-

18-498 Resolved that Council adopt the following Committee Recommendation(s):

Report No. 6.2 Draft Constitution for Local Traffic Committee

File No: I2018/905

Committee Recommendation 6.2.1

That the draft constitution attached to this report be reviewed by members and the committee comments be presented at the next committee meeting for adoption. (Cameron/Richardson)

On the 20 November 2018, the scheduled Local Traffic Committee meeting was deferred due to the absence of the Chairperson and uncertainty about procedural matters when these circumstances occur. As a consequence, the Constitution was not formally adopted.

This event highlighted the potential need to include in the Constitution a procedure for nominating a Vice Chairperson who would step in to run meetings in the absence of the Chairperson and procedures to be followed to enable meetings to be held as the current frequency of meetings is problematic to approvals timing for community events and the like when meetings need to be cancelled or deferred.

The committee is requested to review the final draft document, consider any further changes in respect of chairing meetings, modify the document where necessary and recommend that Council adopt the 2018 Local Traffic Committee Constitution, in accordance with RMS guidelines and any other regulations, and procedures relating to the delegation to Councils, as set out in Section 50 of the Transport Administration Act 1998.

Committee Comments

The committee recommends adopting the constitution as is, with the following amendments:

Section 4, delete “council officer” keep “ any councillor”.

Section 6, delete “The convenor may be the Council’s voting member or may be an additional non-voting member of he LTC” .

Section 9, delete dot points 1 and 2.

Member Smith agreed with alternative meeting formats and supports the use of technology/skype if necessary. Additional electronic meetings are OK, although the committee acknowledges face to face meeting are required for complex proposals.

Management Comments

There were no management comments.

Committee Recommendation:

That Council adopt the Constitution for the Local Traffic Committee as amended.

(Cameron/Smith)

The recommendation was put to the vote and declared carried unanimously.

There being no further business the meeting concluded at 12:20pm.

Venue	Meeting Room 1, Station Street, Mullumbimby
Date	Tuesday, 29 January 2019
Time	10.30am
Committee Members	Katherine Boulton – Roads and Maritime Services Snr Constable Chris Davis – Police Cr Basil Cameron Tamara Smith MP