New Community Voice for Beaches Link Open Space Plan

A new Balgowlah open space community reference group will be set up, providing a fresh opportunity for the community to inform the exciting new public open space plans for Balgowlah.

Member for Manly James Griffin said the group will build on the consultation already carried out and work in partnership with the NSW Government and Northern Beaches Council.

“A new sporting and recreational precinct for Balgowlah is among the commitments we’re making to ensure the long-term benefits of Beaches Link are experienced across our local community,” Mr Griffin said.

“The NSW Government has committed to return to the community almost 90 per cent of the open space Transport for NSW will use while Beaches Link is built. The plan is to have over half of the precinct open and ready to use around two years after work starts – which is three to four years earlier than originally planned.”

Mr Griffin said the process will be separate to the Beaches Link Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) consultation. We will start this process after the EIS public exhibition period and well in advance of construction starting.

“I know how important public open space is to our local community. This will be a dedicated period so we can engage with locals as Transport for NSW, in consultation with the Council, finalise the layout of new and upgraded sporting and recreational facilities,” Mr Griffin said.

“My hope is that the group will include key local stakeholders and the community, to ensure local voices continue to be heard well before construction starts.”

The plans include new open space at Balgowlah and a new shared pathway along the Wakehurst Parkway, connecting Seaforth with the Northern Beaches Hospital precinct.

Beaches Link is an integrated transport solution to improve car and bus journeys to and from the Northern Beaches. The new connection provides an alternative to the Spit Bridge and Roseville Bridge, linking through to the Warringah and Gore Hill Freeways, reducing travel times and providing new public transport options including express bus services.

The Beaches Link EIS is expected to be available for public exhibition later this year.