Phase 2 - June 2025
Project Update
Background
In November and December last year, Council collected the views of residents in and around Leichhardt Street, Waverley to better understand residents' preferences and views about traffic conditions. Following the initial community consultation, and subsequent inputs from a Council meeting, six options have been developed for Leichhardt Street (south of MacPherson Street). We are now seeking further community input on these.
A good level of engagement was received in the previous survey. (You can read the full consultation report in the document section of this page.) The survey revealed local support for reducing vehicle speeds on Leichhardt Street, and residents identified speed as a greater concern than traffic volume. There were mixed views on diverting traffic away from Leichhardt Street to adjacent streets, such as through a one-way traffic route.
Treatment options
Potential treatment options involve various pros and cons. To help residents better understand likely impacts from different treatment options, a summary of potential impacts from these options are presented below. Your response will help Council staff better understand resident preferences and inform next steps.
Your input will be considered alongside further technical work which is required to determine next steps. Approval would also be required from Council in further consultation with Transport for NSW, prior to any changes being implemented.
Treatment Options
Please review the options below and then complete the survey that follows, to select your preference.
Option 1 Install traffic calming devices
- Retain two-way traffic in Leichhardt St
- Apply traffic calming near the Leichhardt St & Barclay St intersection
Potential benefits
- Lower vehicle speeds in Leichhardt St
- Minimal impact on traffic
Potential drawbacks
- Localised impact to adjacent properties
- Loss of on-street parking at treatment location
Option 2: Implement one-way southbound and traffic calming devices
- Implement one-way southbound traffic in Leichhardt Street
- Apply traffic calming near the Leichhardt Street and Barclay Street intersection
Potential benefits
- Lower traffic volume in Leichhardt Street
- Reduction in conflict between opposing traffic in Leichhardt Street near MacPherson Street
Potential drawbacks
- Potentially higher vehicle speeds in Leichhardt Street
- Detour and longer driving distances
- Higher traffic volume in adjacent streets
- Compliance issues with one-way direction and safety implications
- Requires consent and cooperation from Transport for NSW and Randwick Council
Option 3: Implement one-way northbound
- Implement one-way northbound traffic in Leichhardt St
- Traffic calming not included since northbound (uphill) traffic has lower relative speeds.
Potential benefits
- Lower traffic volume in Leichhardt St.
- Reduction in conflict between opposing traffic in Leichhardt St near MacPherson St
Potential drawbacks
- Higher northbound vehicle speeds in Leichhardt St
- Detour and longer driving distances
- Higher traffic volume in adjacent streets
- Compliance issues with one-way direction and safety implications
- Clockwise traffic circulation & more right-turns
- Requires consent and cooperation from Transport for NSW and Randwick Council
Option 4: Remove parking between 13 and 19 Leichhardt Street (western side), install traffic calming devices
- Retain two-way traffic in Leichhardt St
- Apply traffic calming near the Leichhardt St & Barclay St intersection
- Remove on-street parking along 13-19 Leichhardt Street (western side) to widen road space
Potential benefits
- Reduction in conflict between opposing traffic in Leichhardt St near MacPherson St
Potential drawbacks
- Significantly higher vehicle speeds in Leichhardt St near MacPherson St
- More cut-through traffic in Leichhardt St
- Loss of on-street parking
Option 5: Widen the street between 13 and 19 Leichhardt Street (eastern side), install traffic calming devices
- Retain two-way traffic in Leichhardt St
- Apply traffic calming near the Leichhardt St & Barclay St intersection
- Re-allocate park land opposite of 13-19 Leichhardt Street (from Simpson Park) to road space
Potential benefits
- Reduction in conflict between opposing traffic in Leichhardt St near MacPherson St
Potential drawbacks
- Significantly higher vehicle speeds in Leichhardt St near MacPherson St
- More cut-through traffic in Leichhardt St
- Loss of trees and park space
Option 6: Closure of Leichhardt Street at the intersection of Macpherson Street and Leichhardt Street
- Close Leichhardt St (southern leg) at MacPherson St for vehicular traffic
- Retain two-way traffic for the rest of Leichhardt St
Potential benefits
- Significantly lower traffic volume in Leichhardt St
Potential drawbacks
- Notably longer driving distance
- Notably higher traffic volume in adjacent streets
- Requires consent and cooperation from Transport for NSW and Randwick Council
* Photo examples of traffic calming devices are indicative only. More detailed designs would be required to implement traffic calming in the local context. Traffic calming devices may also include slow-points or chicane-like structures and kerb extensions.
The possibility of converting part of Leichhardt Street, between MacPherson Street and Kent Street, to one-way has been looked at. While this reduces detour for some residents, we also recognise practical issues and safety implications with this option. Therefore this option is not further advanced.
Begin Survey
Phase 1 - Dec. 2024
Project background
Waverley Council is seeking the views of local residents and investigating traffic issues on a section of Leichhardt Street south of MacPherson Street, following requests from locals in the area.
Please see a map of the study area, and the section of Leichhardt Street under investigation, which is highlighted in green in the image below.
Traffic calming measures on Leichhardt Street may affect residents on adjacent streets as well. Your response will help Council staff better understand the preferences of residents and form part of a preliminary analysis.
Your input will be considered alongside further technical work which is required to determine:
a) The need for traffic calming and related infrastructure treatments
b) The potential scale and extent of any treatments, and
c) The potential design of any treatment
Traffic calming will likely focus on Leichhardt Street near Barclay Street. Approval would also be required from Council in further consultation with Transport for NSW, prior to any changes being implemented.
