Two residents have voiced their concern that Wingecarribee Shire Council hasn't considered alternative solutions to Station Street.
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John Barrett, president of Friends of Bowral, and Peter Edwards said the alternative solution wouldn't result in a loss of railway station parking or trees.
"More than half of the car spots at Bowral station will be lost to allow the realignment of Station Street," Mr Barrett said.
"This includes a number of trees that will be destroyed including eight National Trust listed Oak trees and other significant trees in Station Street to allow the realignment to take place.
"We have identified a feasible alternative with no loss of station parking or trees. All it needs is for the councillors to listen."
One of the alternative plans would include road upgrades from Links Road to Bowral Street.
"What we've been saying since day one is that stage two of the original scheme is the one that will achieve a lot of improvement and traffic movement," Mr Barrett said.
"That is on land that was acquired by council many years ago and [council's] own traffic modelling suggests that there would be a reduction of traffic on the Funston Street roundabout by about 40 per cent.
"That would be a huge improvement in traffic movement as well as safety."
A second and more ambitious plan has also been identified.
"A broader, more imaginative scheme that has been brought to the fore by a combination of ideas from the Berrima Residents Association and the community," Mr Barrett added.
"The Berrima Residents Association wove into the design an alternate use for the brickworks if they move to New Berrima."
"That would have huge improvements for Bowral. It would involve a roundabout in front of the brickworks and a new bridge and join it up to stage two of the roads.
"It would be a game-changer. It would mean that traffic would leave Mittagong Road as they go over the hill and turn on to Kirkham Road."
"Motorists would go straight down to the roundabout at the brickworks."
A Brickworks spokesperson said once they had DA approval construction at the New Berrima site would begin in 2022-2023.
"Brick Plants take more than 18 months to build and commission, so we are hoping to have the site operational and manufacturing bricks by 2024," they said.
"We note, however, that the feasibility of the New Berrima project relies on releasing value from our landholdings in Bowral. If we are not able to sell the existing land at a market rate then we will not be able to fund the new brick plant and the relocation to New Berrima."
Mr Barrett said stage two would be an easier alternative that wouldn't have any environmental impacts or loss of car spaces while the current plan for the Station Street upgrade would "destroy the entrance to Bowral."
"During summer [the entrance to Bowral] is an archway of majestic oaks and it will be ripped apart," he said.
"There's a range of options, we just need someone to listen.
"They've underestimated the level of concern and community push back."
Mr Edwards added that the current design that has been displayed on council's website had never been formally put on public exhibition for comment and consultation with members of the public.
The last time Station Street was put on public exhibition was in 2017.
"The new design has never been formally put on public exhibition for comment by and consultation with the community," Mr Edwards said.
"Council did the right thing in 2017 to publicly exhibit the original design, even though it changed that design by deleting the pedestrian bridge across the railway before its February 2018 approval.
"Only the position of the roundabout at the north end and the removal of eight pin oaks were approved by council on March 25, 2020 and re-approved on March 27, 2020 after a rescission motion by three councillors was defeated.
"The currently displayed design has many unapproved substantial variations from the 2018 approved design."
"There are several alternative plans."
Residents can view the Station Street Upgrade plan via the Your Say Wingecarribee website.
A Wingecarribee Shire Council spokesperson said stage two of the development would include an extension of Railway Parade to Bowral Street and Links Road.
"While stage two is currently unfunded it concerns the section of road between Bowral Street and Links Road," they said.
The spokesperson also said that more than 230 trees were assessed along the project route.
"Only 134 have been identified for removal of which most were assessed to be in poor condition or self-seeded saplings," they said.
"A further 13 trees considered of high value will be transplanted."
"An additional five 'super mature' Pin Oaks have also been obtained for the northern entrance while 96 mature trees have already been secured as per council's Street Tree Master Plan.
"In addition to the above trees an extensive array of low lying plants, shrubs and flowers will also be planted to further 'green' and enhance the route."
A Wingecarribee Shire Council spokesperson further clarified that there will be an additional 50 parking spaces made available at Bowral, not including the 70 parking spaces that will be created in Mittagong.
"A net increase of 50 parking spaces will be provided as a result of the project," they said.
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
