“Get a wriggle on”: Chatswood bicycle paths fast-tracked ahead of anticipated growth

Plans to construct a separated bicycle path along High Street have been accelerated, as Willoughby Council braces for a boom to its population. 

What happened: Willoughby councillors voted on Monday evening to speed up the roll out of its bike paths, with work on a High Street cycleway pushed forward two years to start this financial year. 

• The meeting also saw a cycleway along Johnson Street bumped up in council's schedule, which would create an east to west route between suburban Willoughby and the Chatswood CBD.

Set your boundaries: High Street currently has marked bike lanes, but no separating barrier between cyclists and motorists. The NSW Government’s transport strategy says that protected, connected bike paths are key to encouraging more cycling in NSW.

Wheels turning: In recent years, Willoughby has been working to encourage more use of bicycles. The council currently has seven cycling projects budgeted in its long term delivery program. 

More density: The amendment to push forward these projects was moved by Councillor John Moratelli. He told the Lorikeet increased density in areas like Chatswood “makes the argument more compelling”. 

• In 2021, Willoughby Council had a reported population of 75,613. Council figures expect that figure to rise to 91,848 by 2036.

How much: $120,000 has now been budgeted for each project this financial year. Full construction costs will be much larger. While simple in premise, building new bicycle lanes can be a highly complicated — and expensive — process. 

Even a council like Willoughby, currently in a budget surplus, will struggle to fund these projects itself, and as such will likely have to put its hat out, hoping for a state grant.

• This financial year, Transport for NSW has $60 million on offer for the design and construction of pedestrian and bicycle paths.
  

• A similar bike lane, running between Hampden Road and Herbert Street, received $7.2 million of state funding in 2023. Construction is set to start in 2027.

“I want the council to get a wriggle on with it”, Moratelli told the Lorikeet. “We’re not the only council who will be submitting councils for grants. I’d rather us be number 10 than number 90”.