Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrade

Project Update: Separable Portion 2 (SP2) Civil Works

This update is to inform of the recent Council motion passed to cease the planned Separable Portion 2 (SP2) civil upgrade works at the intersection of Bronte Rd, Carrington Rd & Victoria St.

You can view a map of the SP1 and SP2 work scope areas below.

Locations within SP2 disturbed by the preliminary electrical works trenching will be reinstated to match surrounding existing materiality, without carrying out further upgrades. The geometric layout of the intersection will remain unchanged as from existing conditions.

The decision to remove the SP2 portion of works from the project scope was made following ongoing discussions with local residents and businesses on the project’s impacts, construction timeframe and concerns over removal of the slip lane from Bronte Road to Carrington Road.

The infrastructure installed to date in the process of undergrounding the power within SP2 will be able to be utilised in future for easy connectivity to power for any Transport for NSW or Council roads enhancement projects.

The main civil works, including landscaping, are on track to be completed in November 2025. Some civil works cannot be completed until the Ausgrid poles in the SP1 area have been removed, with every effort being made to have this done before the end of 2025.

You are welcome to provide feedback on the decision made to reduce the scope of the project and can submit feedback below.

November 2025: Landscaping underway

The streets of Charing Cross are getting greener! Landscaping works are underway at Charing Cross with a mix of Australian natives bringing life and colour around kerbs and footpaths.

Civil works and electrical works are on track to be completed in November 2025, with some further pole removal works subjected to Ausgrid scheduling. Notification will be provided in advance of upcoming works as the project enters its final stages.

Review of Environmental Factors (REF)

The REF is a detailed, peer-reviewed report that looks at all the factors impacted by a project, including socio-economic, traffic, heritage, sustainability and others.

Council received public feedback on the REF (including the detailed design plans) between 2 - 29 November 2023.

We are currently consolidating all the feedback collected during this period to provide to our external consultants.

To view all REF peer review documents please refer to the Important Documents section of this page.

Consultation round 1

In March 2020, we consulted residents and local business owners in Charing Cross to make sure the scope of the project aligned with the community's needs. This feedback was used to inform the detailed concept design for the streetscape upgrade.

Consultation round 2

From 21 April - 19 May 2021 we went back to the community with draft concept designs for the streetscape upgrade.

The objectives were to:

Provide the community with clear information so their feedback on the proposed concept is specific and applicable
Identify and work with stakeholders to refine issues and key elements of the project

Overall, we received 433 submissions from the community, including 200 survey responses, 126 posts on the ideas board and 107 pieces of face-to-face feedback. All feedback was compiled in a Consultation Summary Report.

How feedback was collected:

An online survey (see below)
Ideas board (see below)
Postal
An online community info session held on 6 May 2021
Two Have Your Say days held to collect face to face feedback
- 30 April 2021 - 7:30-10:30am, opposite the Legions Club
- 1 May 2021 - 7:30-10:30am, opposite the Legions Club

Project Updates

Bronte Road crossings

Two pedestrian crossings have now been completed and are in operation towards the southern end of Bronte Road at Charing Cross as part of the civil works package.

The streetscape is really starting to take shape with these crossings installed and nearby kerb and footpath improvements underway to improve accessibility for all village centre users. Improving the efficiency of pedestrian crossings creates a safer environment for children accessing local schools and vehicles along Bronte Road and Albion Street. Wayfinding signage is being installed for greater visibility for road users.

Civil works and preliminary works update

The electrical works underway along Bronte Road are almost finished, with Stages 1-4 now complete.

Work on the western side of Bronte Road, Carrington Road and Victoria Street for Stages 5 and 6 are 60% complete, with Stage 7 now underway. The electrical works package is tracking to be finished by October 2025.

View the preliminary electrical works staging plan here.

The civil works are progressing well in 2025. Around the Albion Street and Bronte Road intersection, Stages 1-5 are now complete. New kerb, guttering and pavement has been installed, with landscaping to be carried out in late 2025. Road thresholds have been poured for these stages. As brick and concrete paving is installed it is sealed and ready for use. Stage 8 (eastern side of Bronte Road at the southern end) is now 90% complete. Stages 6 and 9 are in progress currently. Road re-sheeting works have commenced on the eastern side of Bronte Road and will be ongoing.

View the civil works staging plan here.

Changed traffic conditions on Bronte Road and local streets are in place during the works so please adhere to signage and traffic controllers on site as you travel through the area.

Parking changes on Bronte Rd and Albion St

New parking arrangements for two sections of local streets will commence from 1 May 2025 following requests to Council from the community. Council are creating more timed parking spaces to offset street parking taken by construction of the streetscape upgrade to help promote better turnover of customers throughout the Charing Cross Commercial Precinct.

Council officers agreed to:

1. Convert unrestricted parking (9am-3pm) around St Catherine’s School area at Albion Street to:

7 two-hour spaces with Area 25 Permit Exemptions (Eastern side)
4 two-hour spaces with Area 25 Permit Exemptions (Western side)
Please note: Recent community notification distributed to businesses and residents advising of changes to parking incorrectly stated St Clare’s School area and should be St Catherine’s School area. We apologise for any confusion on the area as stated previously.

2. Convert unrestricted parking along Bronte Road between Albion Street and Henrietta Street to:

11 one-hour spaces with Area 25 Permit Exemptions (Southern side)
5 one-hour spaces with Area 25 Permit Exemptions (Northern side)
Suggested hours are 8:30am-6pm Mon-Fri and 8:30am-12:30pm Sat (consistent with existing Charing Cross restrictions)

Please note: Recent community notification distributed to businesses and residents advising of changes to parking incorrectly stated Prospect Street and should be Henrietta Street. We apologise for any confusion on the area as stated previously.

The new parking arrangements will commence from Thursday 1 May 2025. The new restrictions will be enforced, with signage installed on site, and will remain in place for the duration of construction.

Civil works and preliminary work updates

Preliminary electrical works are ongoing in 2025 following a shutdown period over Christmas and New Year, with works expected to be completed by mid-May.

Trenching and the pulling of cable has been completed within Stages 1 – 3 and 50% of Stage 4. The contractor QMC recommenced the remainder of Stage 4 in January and will be completed in mid-February 2025.

Council has engaged an external contractor CA&I to undertake the civil works component of the project, commencing in late January 2025. Following minor preliminary works such as Macpherson Park and Bronte Road site establishments the main civil works will commence in early February. The Staging Plan Map provided in the documents section shows the overlap between stages to enable a smoother transition between construction activities. Completion of the civil works component of the project is expected to be late-November 2025, pending approved extensions of time by Council.

Preliminary Electrical Works Update and 2025 Civil Works

The preliminary electrical works have been progressing well despite some program setbacks due to delays from utility providers. These delays are outside of Council’s control and we continue to work with them to carry out electrical works as efficiently as possible. We appreciate the community’s patience during this time.

Stages 1-4 have progressed with trenching and laying of cables and conduits continuing, with the Contractor working on completing Stage 2. Low voltage pillar installation has commenced in Stages 1 and 3 and will be progressed as quickly as possible following the trenching and laying of cabling and conduits activities. Refer to the staging plan in the Important Documents section for a visual representation of each stage.

Currently the second phase of the project (Civil Works) is due to commence in February 2025. The community will be notified of the timing and commencement of these works at least four (4) weeks in advance via notification letters to local residents and businesses and updates to the Have Your Say page.

We appreciate the patience of the local community as these works progress.

Preliminary Electrical Works update

Preliminary electrical works for the Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrade have been underway since June and the contractor is making steady progress along Bronte Road. Work continues to progress north towards the Carrington/Bronte/Victoria signalised intersection.

During the works there are impacts to on-street parking.

Whilst we are limiting these impacts on parking as much as possible, local businesses remain open and alternative parking in the nearby area can be found:

Along Carrington Road with on-foot access to Bronte Road via Cables Place and Judges Lane (on-street parking is a No Stopping zone between 7:30-9:30am and 4:00-6:30pm Monday – Friday)
At the Off-Street Parking Area off Victoria Street near the Mary Immaculate Catholic Church

We appreciate your patience during construction for this important work that will create a safer pedestrian experience and provide space for street furniture and outdoor dining.

Preliminary Electrical works

Council has now commenced the preliminary electrical works for the Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrade.

The Contractor, QMC, will start on the south-western end of Charing Cross, where Bronte Rd and Albion St meet, and work their way north per the staging plan included in the Important Documents section of this HYS Page. The anticipated completion for the works is mid-December 2024 pending weather and other extension of time requests approved by Council.

Council has also commenced the procurement of a civil works head contractor which will be reported to Council for approval. The scheduling of these works will be relayed to the community once a contractor has been appointed. This information will be issued in the usual channels by way of notification letters to local residents, and through updates to this HYS page.

At the Finance, Operations and Community Services Committee meeting of 4 April 2023, it was resolved unanimously that Council:

1. Approves the Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrade Design Intent, as set out in the report, to inform the detailed design with respect to the following components:

(a) Selection of appropriate tree species for heritage and non-heritage building facades

(b) Street tree and furniture locations with consideration given to the Posted Awning Strategy

(b) Material detailing for lighting, hanging baskets and street furniture.

2. Delegates authority to the Executive Manager, Infrastructure Services, to modify the design should design constraints and on-site circumstances warrant changes.

3. Notes that:

(a) The Charing Cross Precinct Committee has been consulted in recent months, and its feedback has been considered for the development of the final detailed design

(b) The detailed design will progress to final completion, and Council officers will proceed to advertising a tender for the project to undertake the construction works

(c) The Review of Environmental Factors will be publicly advertised as legislatively required and the General Manager will make a decision on the project proceeding.

The report presented to Council can be found on page 36 of the Finance, Operations and Community Services Committee meeting Agenda of 4 April 2023. The resolutions can be found on page four of the Minutes of same meeting.

Please see below the background information on this project that has led us to this point.

Project progress to detailed design

At the Council meeting on 17 May 2022 it was resolved that Council:

1. Progresses Option 3 for the Charing Street Streetscape Upgrade to detailed design, noting the following key items will be addressed in development of the design as appropriate:

(a) Selection of tree species to vary and consider the heritage status of building façades.

(b) Completion of a posted awning review to inform locations of trees and street furniture items in detailed design.

(c) Undertake an options analysis on materiality interpretations to acknowledge the original kerb alignment within the widened footpath.

(d) Undertake an options analysis on appropriate lighting, hanging baskets and street furniture in the detailed design.

2. Engages with members of the community during detailed design development, including those from the Charing Cross Precinct that have shown significant interest in the project.

View the meeting agenda and minutes.

Important Documents

Project Timeline

Timeline item 1 - complete

People, Movement and Places endorsed by Council (2017)

Charing Cross Streetscape Upgrade identified as a priority project.
Timeline item 2 - complete

Information gathering from community

March 2020
Community feedback collected on the scope of the project.
Timeline item 3 - complete

Concept design development: stage one

External consultants will develop a concept design for feedback from stakeholders and community.
Timeline item 4 - complete

Community consultation on concept design

April-May 2021
Community feedback collected on the detailed concept design.
Timeline item 5 - complete

Concept design development: stage two

External consultants will tweak the concept design according to community feedback.
Timeline item 6 - complete

Detailed design development

Feedback from community consultation will be provided to architects to review as we develop the detailed design. Estimated completion mid September 2023.
Timeline item 7 - complete

REF on exhibition

A Review of Environmental Factors, that incorporates the detailed design, will be exhibited to the community for 28 days in November 2023.
Timeline item 8 - complete

Meet the Mayor community session

Grain Bakery
9-11am, Friday 24 November
320 Bronte Road, Charing Cross
Timeline item 9 - complete

Detailed design completion

The architects will complete the final design in mid December 2023.
Timeline item 10 - complete

Procure head civil contractor

Council will procure a head civil contractor via a Request for Tender (RFT) and report the recommendation to Council in December 2023.
Timeline item 11 - active

Electrical works

Preliminary works started in June 2024. These include the laying of conduits and cabling required to underground the overhead powerlines.
Timeline item 12 - active

Construction

Construction for the civil works started in early 2025.

Have a enquiry?

Nick Prell
Project Manager, Waverley Council

Email: majorprojects@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Phone	02 9083 8000
Email	engagement@waverley.nsw.gov.au
Website	www.waverley.nsw.gov.au
In writing	Waverley Council 55 Spring Street, Bondi Junction NSW 2022 Australia

Have Your Say Waverley