young street reconstruction project: workshop results · 2015. 8. 18. · page 4 of 19 young street...

Young Street Reconstruction Project:

Workshop Results

May 2015

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Young Street Reconstruction Project: Workshop Results May 2015

Contents

Contents .................................................................................................................................. 2

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................ 3

Community information sessions ............................................................................................ 4

Workshop agenda ............................................................................................................... 5

Promotion ............................................................................................................................ 7

Registration ......................................................................................................................... 7

Attendance .......................................................................................................................... 7

Project background and scope ............................................................................................ 7

Feedback summary ................................................................................................................ 8

Individual results .................................................................................................................. 9

Top 3 Values .................................................................................................................... 9

Ideas for Young Street ................................................................................................... 10

Top 3 issues .................................................................................................................. 11

Proposed solutions ........................................................................................................ 12

Parking options feedback .............................................................................................. 14

Group workshop activity results ........................................................................................ 15

Top 3 values .................................................................................................................. 15

Top 3 issues .................................................................................................................. 16

Workshop observations ..................................................................................................... 17

Participant feedback .......................................................................................................... 18

Where to from here ............................................................................................................... 19

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Executive Summary

A community workshop was held to inform Carrington residents and businesses about, and

obtain community feedback on, Council’s intention to undertake road and footpath

reconstruction on Young Street. In total, 40 participants attended the session on Saturday 23

May 2015, 1pm - 3pm.

The workshop was facilitated by Council's community engagement team with presentations

from Council's community engagement and infrastructure planning departments.

Workshop results revealed that the aspects of Young Street most highly valued by

participants were the village atmosphere/community feel (22%), followed by trees (16%),

wide footpaths (10%) and the availability of free parking (10%).

Workshop participants were asked to identify the top three issues for Young Street. The

results show the main areas that need to be addressed are the footpath maintenance (28%)

in particular the poor condition and inconsistent surface materials, followed by drainage

(17%) and parking (16%).

The most preferred parking option for Young Street's commercial precinct was the current

layout of 90° parking on both sides of the road.

The workshop outcomes will be considered during the design process. Council will hold a

second workshop later this year to gather feedback on the design alternatives. Once the

design is complete, it will be put on public exhibition for comment.

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Community information sessions

Project background and scope

In the early-mid 1990s Council undertook a make-over of Young Street’s commercial

area. Street trees planted in the roadway as part of this project grew vigorously causing

damage to pipes, paths and road pavements. Over time this has resulted in trip hazards,

localised flooding and interruption to services. Road safety issues include a non-compliant

parking layout with inadequate manoeuvring space and traffic thresholds which are mistaken

for pedestrian crossings. A number of requests have been received from the public

regarding these issues.

Recurrent maintenance works are a bandaid solution and expensive to continually

repeat. To adequately address the issues identified on Young Street, Council needs to

undertake full road and footpath reconstruction. This will replace damaged and aging

infrastructure, resolve parking and road safety issues and incorporate appropriate tree

species. This work presents an opportunity to improve the functioning and presentation of

the street and rejuvenate Carrington's commercial area.

The Young Street Reconstruction Project has been broken up into two stages of completion.

While concept designs will be undertaken for both stages at the same time, the stages will

be separated when it comes to the construction phase. Stage 1 construction is due to

commence July to December 2016 and Stage 2 July to December 2017 (subject to change).

Figure 1 Project scope:

Note: Scope area covers Young St from Forbes St to Cowper St North Stage 1 is from Cowper St North to Victoria St and Stage 2 is from Victoria St to Forbes St Stage 1 is deemed the commercial part of Young Street and Stage 2 residential.

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Figure 2 Project timeline

Workshop objectives

The purpose of the community information session was to:

inform Carrington residents and businesses about, and obtain community feedback

on, Council’s intention to undertake road and footpath reconstruction on Young

Street,

present previous feedback received from the Carrington community about issues on

Young Street, and

discuss other issues that need to be considered in reconstructing Young Street.

Workshop agenda

The workshop was structured in two parts. The first part of the session was designed to

inform participants about community engagement and issues identified by the Carrington

community to date, management issues and design opportunities and constraints. The

second part of the session involved workshop exercises designed to provide opportunities

for participants to provide feedback on what they value about the area as well as identify any

other issues for Council consideration. This model of workshop falls under the inform and

consult categories of the IAP2 framework outlined in Newcastle City Council's Community

Engagement Framework.

We are here

http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/236392/Comm_Engagement_framework_Final_2.pdf

http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/236392/Comm_Engagement_framework_Final_2.pdf

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Figure 3: Public Participation Spectrum, International Association of Public Participation

Figure 4 Workshop agenda

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Promotion

The workshop was promoted in Carrington in a variety of ways:

flyers were letterbox dropped to each household in Carrington. A copy of the flyer is

included in Appendix I,

four coreflutes were displayed along Young Street,

the Community Engagement team liaised with Young Street businesses and left

flyers for businesses to distribute to community members, and

all Newcastle Voice online members residing in Carrington were emailed a

personalised invitation to attend the workshop. In total, 41 Newcastle Voice members

were invited and 9 attended the workshop (response rate of 22%).

All Councillors were invited to attend the workshop.

Registration

The flyers and coreflutes instructed community members wishing to attend to register prior to

the workshop. Registrations were essential given capacity restrictions at the workshop

venue (School Hall, Carrington Public School), for catering purposes, and also to ensure that

participants were Carrington residents, businesses, or property owners. In total, 63

registrations were taken.

Attendance

In total, 40 members of the Carrington community attended the workshop. Council staff

present at the workshop included:

The Community Engagement team,

Asset Program Coordinator - Environment,

Program Development Coordinator - Roads,

Landscape Architect

Environmental Education Officer - Natural Assets

Councillor Posniak also attended for part of the workshop.

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Informing the community

During the inform section of the workshop there were three presentations. The first outlined

the community engagement that has occurred to date including an overview of community

identified issues. The second presentation surrounded management issues which looked at

drainage, tree issues (including; past tree planting practice, tree roots systems, underwire

tree management), damaged road infrastructure, public safety and insurance claims and

maintenance claims. It also outlined the Young Street reconstruction project objectives, that

the project will provide:

footpath and road reconstruction

improved parking outcomes

traffic management (calming, pedestrian, cycle & disability access)

kerb & gutter and stormwater drainage reconstruction

integrated tree replacement

rejuvenated commercial precinct (street furniture)

The third presentation outlined the opportunities and constraints. This included identifying

the attributes to Young Street currently as well as design considerations focusing on parking

layout options, special parking and access requirements, overhead power and poles,

underground services, traffic sight lines, soil types and surface levels, and budget.

For more information or to view the workshop presentation please see Appendix II.

Feedback summary

The workshop was divided into two engagement activities and will be reported as individual

results and group work results.

The individual exercise required each participant to identify:

the top three features that they value or like about Young Street

what they would like to see in Young Street

the top three issues they would like to see addressed on Young Street, as well as the

opportunity to suggest solutions to these issues

level of agreement with parking options for Young Street

This information was captured on a worksheet, presented in Appendix III.

To help complete the exercise, participants were taken on a guided walking tour of Young

Street. Some participants opted to not participate in the walk and completed the exercise at

the workshop premises.

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Individual results

Top 3 features valued or liked on Young Street

The top three results overall for individual values were the village atmosphere/community

feel (22%), followed by trees (16%), wide footpaths (10%) and the availability of free parking

(10%). See Figure 5 for more detail.

Figure 5: Top three features valued on Young Street

1%

1%

4%

4%

2%

3%

10%

1%

2%

5%

10%

3%

16%

3%

3%

3%

4%

5%

22%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Bus shelter

Easy access to Young St

Shade

Business type

Traffic thru way

Wide street/ wide road

Parking (free, amount)

Surface

Cycle on footpaths

General

Wide footpaths

Greenery/ tree canopy

Trees

Existing character

Outside dining

Open space (park)

Heritage

Street furniture

Village atmosphere/community feel

10%

15%

18%

19%

40%

Oth

er

Ro

ads

Fo

ot

path

sT

ree

sC

ultu

ral

Top 3 features valued on Young Street

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Ideas for Young Street

Workshop participants were asked to identify what they would like to see in Young Street.

This could be what is currently there and want to see more of, or ideas for what could be

implemented. 25 responses to this question were received (63% of workshop participants).

The most commented on theme was roads (29%) including addressing the traffic issues,

parking options and pedestrian crossings. Roads were followed by trees (25%) and cultural

items (21%). Please refer to Figure 6 for further detail.

Figure 6: What would you like to see in Young Street?

2%

2%

2%

4%

2%

2%

4%

6%

2%

2%

2%

4%

4%

6%

2%

4%

4%

6%

8%

2%

4%

4%

4%

4%

4%

6%

0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10%

Shade cloths

Fix the Council ruin

Extend landscape treatment to the north

Underground powerline

Wide footpaths

Recess footpaths

Shared pathways

Footpath maintenance

More distinctive entry to village

Encourage heritage

Re-install verandahs and posts

Enhanced village atmosephere

Markets and art

Street furniture

Careful choice of trees (consult experts)

Plants/bushes/ trees

Less trees

Trees and tree canopy

Remove trees

Implement timed parking

Kerb & Gutter maintainance

More parking

Angle parking

Pedestrian crossing (near post office &…

90° parking

Address traffic

10%

15%

21%

25%

29%

Oth

er

Fo

otp

ath

sC

ultu

ral

Tre

es

Ro

ads

What would you like to see in Young Street?

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Top 3 issues to be addressed on Young Street

Workshop participants were asked to identify the top three issues for Young Street. The top

three issues identified were footpath maintenance (28%) in particular the poor condition and

inconsistent surface materials, followed by drainage (17%) and parking (16%) See Figure 7

for more detail.

Figure 7: Young St- Top three issues

1%

1%

7%

1.2%

2.4%

12%

4%

17%

1%

1%

2%

2%

4%

16%

28%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Enhance streetscape

Council ruin

Powerlines

Lighting

Replace bus stop in Cowper St

Trees

flooding/ ponding

Drainage

Kerb/guttering

Road condition

Lack of pedestrian crossing

Limit speeds

Traffic

Parking

Footpath maintenance

10%

4%

12%

20%

27%

28%

Oth

er

Fa

cili

tie

sT

ree

sD

rain

ag

eR

oa

ds

Fo

ot

path

s

Top 3 issues to be addressed on Young Street

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Proposed solutions

Participants were asked to propose solutions for the three issues they identified for Young

Street. Full verbatim responses are presented below in Table 1.

Table 1 Proposed solutions for Young Street issues

Issue Sub - Issues Suggestions

Fo

otp

ath

s (

28

%)

Footpath maintenance New footpath

Extended footpath at taxi stand in front of oriental which diminished width of young st and make turning dangerous

Just do it

Same style flat and integrated Cowper to Forbes

Remedial works that are sustainable

Decide on appropriate paving and replace

Good safe footpaths, get to work and fix it

Resurface all footpaths in one uniform style

Created from trees

Paving maybe porous paving

State of footpaths

Removable, replicable pavers

Repaired to better condition

No trip slip footpaths

Ro

ad

s 2

7%

Traffic (calming features, confusion)

Items designed to meet purpose visually identified

Turn current traffic calming into pedestrian crossings

Traffic thru way

Parking (poor design)

90° front to kerb

Timed parking, rear to kerb

Timed parking 2 hours

Leave it at 90° parking

Angle in stage 1 and 2

45° parking

Lack of parking at peak times. Redesign parking 90° parking in Cowper/eastern side of Young outside old theatre

Parallel parking on both sides

Do not like 45° parking

Resident parking and cyclist parking

Limit speeds (speed humps, reduce speed)

Dangerous port traffic speeding around the corner at cnr Young St through Howden St- trucks mount the kerb as narrow street. Poor visibility and kids on street - park at risk general school kid street crossing. Repairing, traffic calming.

Speed humps, speed limit to 20kph

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W

ate

r d

rain

ag

e (

20%

)

Flooding/ ponding Something done for better drainage

No islands

Drainage Created from trees

Appropriate tree planting and kerb/gutter rejuvenation

Storm water leaves in gutter

Fix it

New kerb and gutter all street

Stormwater remediation

Tre

es

(1

2%

)

Trees Small foliage trees on footpath edge large trees removed.

Figtree's on road way remove them

pruned a little better

Removal of tree's

Plant compatible tree's to suit drainage

Create a planned tree structure plans

Smaller trees - less trees but integrated to Forbes

Fa

cilit

ies

(4%

)

Replace bus stop in Cowper St

Bus stop - put back that was taken away from Young/Cowper Street. Think about the elderly who can't walk far

Oth

er

(10%

)

Council ruin Use our brain to make it better

Enhance streetscape Visually daggy, look at Melbourne street scapes and get it

Power lines Need to remove underground

Put underground

Note: Not all participants completed the issues section (74% completes). Some participants ranked issues but did

not suggest any improvements.

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Parking options feedback

Participants were asked to indicate their level of agreement with eight different parking

options for Young Street using a five point scale. A mean score was calculated for each

parking option, where a mean score of 1.0 indicates strong disagreement and a score of 5.0

indicates strong agreement. Participants also had the opportunity to outline in an open-

ended question why they agreed or disagreed with each option. The survey was collected at

the end of the workshop, we received 34 responses. Results from the first section of the

exercise are as follows. The worksheet utilised by participants is included in Appendix III and

verbatim comments in Appendix IV.

The option with the highest level of agreement was the current parking situation, 90° both

sides (mean score of 3.5 out of 5), followed by 90° both sides rear to kerb (3.0 out of 5) and

45° both sides no median/trees (2.4 out of 5). Please refer to Figure 8 for mean scores for all

parking options.

During the workshop the infrastructure planning team outlined that the current parking option

does not meet legislative requirements as the street is too narrow. If 90° parking on both

sides is selected, it may impinge on the existing structure and potentially footpaths. As

shown in Figure 5 wide footpaths have been identified as an asset to Young Street. This

issue will be taken into consideration during the concept design phase and addressed during

the next stage of consultation with community.

Figure 8: Parking options

1.8

2.1

2.1

2.3

2.3

2.4

3.0

3.5

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

Parallel at sides and parallel central withmedian

Parallel, central 45° (alternating banks)

45° both sides with median/trees

Parallel at sides, central 90°

Parallel at sides, central 45° (alternatingsingles)

45° both sides no median / trees

90° both sides rear to kerb

90° both sides (status quo)

Parking options (Mean Scores)

Strongly disagree Strongly agree

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Group workshop activity results

The second section of the workshop involved participants breaking into groups with an

average six people in each group. The groups where asked to identify their overall top three

values and issues to submit on giant post-its as a group. Each group wrote their top three

values on orange post-its and top three issues on pink post-its. The results were collected

and placed on the wall in themes. Following this exercise, the Community Engagement team

facilitated a whole group discussion where participants were able to discuss results and

identify anything they thought may have been overlooked.

Group work: Top three values

When asked what the groups value, all groups (6 groups) addressed village

atmosphere/community feel as a value along with footpaths (100%). Trees were the next

most common value (67%) which was addressed by 4 out of 6 groups.

Figure 9: Group work- values

17%

17%

17%

33%

50%

50%

50%

67%

100%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Bus shelter

Garbage

Outside dining

Businesses

Parking

Street furniture

Wide street

Trees

Footpaths

Village atmosphere/ community feel

Group work: values

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Group work- Top three issues

When asked what the top three issues were for Young St, all groups (6 groups) identified

drainage (100%). Footpaths were the next most common issue (83%) which was addressed

by 5 out of 6 groups, followed by parking (67%).

Figure 10: Group work- issues

33%

33%

33%

33%

50%

50%

67%

83%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Powerlines

Trees

flooding/ ponding

Kerb/guttering

Traffic

Lack of pedestrian crossing

Parking

Footpath

Drainage

Group work: issues

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Workshop observations

This section outlines observations taken at the workshop. The following are additional items

that were addressed in general discussion:

Parking: The discussion surrounding parking indicated that parking capacity in most

cases was adequate, except for lunchtime peak. Timed parking was recommended

by a few participants to prevent all-day parkers.

Pedestrian crossings: There were mixed opinions among participants about the

locations and safety of the current pedestrian crossings. It was identified that

crossings on Young Street are important and special consideration needs to be made

when deciding the location of future crossings.

Speed limits: The topic of vehicle speed limits was raised numerous times. It was

suggested that the entire length of Young St be a 40kph neighbourhood traffic zone.

It was suggested by another that the retail precinct be limited to 20kph, 40kph

appeared to be an acceptable speed limit for most attendees.

Trees: Issues were noted with the fig trees (circa 1996), where trip hazards, drainage

and ponding issues have arisen in recent years. No-one objected to the proposal that

all of the fig trees and some of the London Plane trees be replaced with a more

suitable canopy species. One elderly woman stated that she had tripped in recent

times. Another woman stated that she wrote a two-page letter to Council in 1996

urging them not to plant this variety of tree in the first place.

Power lines: Many attendees requested that electricity be placed underground,

however doing so was determined by Council staff to be well outside of the project's

budget.

Bus stop: Some participants didn't like the preceding relocation of bus stops in

Young Street - bus users wanted something that is protected from the elements,

central and accessible. Retailers didn't want bus stops placed directly in front of small

retail businesses.

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Participant feedback

Participants with email addresses were sent a feedback survey to complete after the

workshop. These results assist in providing a better service in the future. The results show a

high overall satisfaction with the workshop. Figure 11 shows the results as a mean score,

the scale was 'strongly disagree' (1.0) to 'strongly agree' (5.0).

Figure 11: Workshop- participant feedback (n= 9)

3.7

3.8

3.9

3.9

4.1

4.2

4.2

4.6

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0

Workshop participants had sufficient opportunityto talk about the things they value about Young

Street

I feel like I got to have my say

The workshop adequately informed participants about Council’s planned reconstruction project

for Young Street.

Overall, I was satisfied with the Young Streetreconstruction project community workshop

The objectives of the workshop were clear

The key issues that need addressing in YoungStreet were adequately discussed

I enjoyed the workshop

I will attend the next Young Street workshoplater this year if I am available

Workshop: participant feedback

Strongly agree Strongly disagree

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Where to from here

A copy of this report will be made available to those (where an email address was provided)

that registered interest in the workshop (including those that did not attend) and will be

published on the Newcastle City Council completed engagements webpage.

The next step is for Council to begin the design process. Council will hold a second

workshop later this year to gather feedback on the design alternatives. Once the design is

complete, it will be put on public exhibition for comment.

young street reconstruction project: workshop results · 2015. 8. 18. · page 4 of 19 young street...

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