Laurel Avenue and Tamarack Avenue Closure Investigation

** UPDATE **

On Monday 31 August, a letter was sent to residents advising the outcome of the Laurel Avenue and Tamarack Avenue road closure investigation.

The community consultation indicated a strong preference to close Laurel Avenue and return it to community land.

A design is currently underway to allow Laurel Avenue to be closed. It is expected that the road will be removed in the coming months.

Consultation results were split on Tamarack Avenue.

It was resolved by council (at the 23 June 2020 Burnside Council meeting) to defer the question regarding Tamarack Avenue until completion of a master plan for the Tregenza Oval site.

Download the letter sent to residents.

BACKGROUND:

A Council Report was presented to Council for consideration on 23 June 2020 on the outcomes of the community consultation.

Council resolved:

C12596

That Council:

1. Consistent with the results of the various consultation processes undertaken to date, support in principle, the allocation of up to $200,000 of the recently announced Federal Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program funding, during the 2020/21 Financial year to upgrade 31 Laurel Avenue, Linden Park from an operational nursery site to a Hybrid community garden covering design and construction costs (currently an unfunded project).

2. Commence a process to close the made road portion of Laurel Avenue to return it to community land and return the two existing encroachments to the property owners of 11 Wemyss Street and 29 Laurel Avenue, Linden Park.

3. Commence preparation of a Master Plan for the entire Tregenza Oval site.

You can read the Council Report in the Document Library located to the right of this page.

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Both thoroughfares are 'made roads' on community land. Should they become 'public roads' or be returned to open space?

In Linden Park there are two thoroughfares that, since the 1950s, have been used as roads even though they are located on land that is designated as Community Land. Both of these roads originally formed part of the community land associated with Tregenza Oval and 31 Laurel Avenue:

Laurel Avenue, Linden Park, which connects two public roads - Wemyss Street and the northern section of Laurel Avenue; and

Tamarack Avenue, Linden Park, which connects two public roads - Booth Avenue and the eastern section of Tamarack Avenue.

Council seeks to explore if the community wish to keep these roads and thus convert them to 'public roads' (as defined by the Local Government Act 1999), or, if they should be returned to open space.

Each road will be considered separately.

If the community decide that one, or both, of the roads should be declared a public road, a subsequent consultation process will be undertaken as required by the Local Government Act 1999, to revoke the community land status of these portions of land. The 'public road' can then be declared.

What is a 'made road'?

Thoroughfares that are used by the public as roads however they traverse over community land. They are most often an historical access point that over time was sealed and became a permanent access road.

What is Community Land?

Community Land is land managed by Council for open space and recreation uses for the community.

LAUREL AVENUE

Access to 31 Laurel Avenue and the western driveway to the Tregenza Oval clubrooms would remain from Wemyss Street.

Converting the made road to a public road would:

• Continue to provide access for motorists between Wemyss Street and Laurel Avenue north of Tregenza Oval.

Returning the made road to open space would:

• Provide additional green space.
• Safely link Tregenza Oval to 31 Laurel Avenue (which is currently being considered as a future community garden).
• Reduce the dangers associated with the blind corners on this section of Laurel Avenue.

TAMARACK AVENUE

Access to Regis Aged Care and the recently upgraded Tregenza Oval car park off Tamarack Avenue, will be maintained whichever option is selected.

Converting the made road to a public road would:

• Provide access for motorists between Tamarack Avenue east of Tregenza Oval to Booth Avenue.
• Maintain the full function of the Regis Aged Care circular driveway off Tamarack Avenue.

Returning the made road to open space would:

• Provide additional green space.
• Provide safe access from the retirement village and surrounding houses to Tregenza Oval.
• Access to the eastern driveway of Regis Aged Care would remain from Tamarack Avenue.
• The western driveway of Regis Aged Care is circular with two access/egress points on Tamarack Avenue. Access through the western most entry point of the circular driveway would remain from Booth Avenue.

Please complete the online survey below by 5 pm Friday 17 April 2020.