The Manly2015 Masterplan

The Concept Plans

Manly2015  is about strengthening the aspects that make Manly a great place, repairing some of the problems that undermine Manly's potential, and in a lot of respects, returning to the key principles that were laid out by Manly's founding father Henry Gilbert Smith. In his 1853 plan for Manly, Henry Gilbert Smith envisioned a 'village' character for Manly with a 'public common' on the Triangle Site and Belgrave Street as a “Grand Boulevard”.

Manly2015 provides strategies to help the re-emergence of this village atmosphere and in doing so, to start to spread the quality of activity and experience of The Corso across the entire town centre. Further the increased participation by locals will start to balance the large numbers of tourists while reinforcing Manly as a people friendly, community minded village centre.

The key aims of MANLY2015 are

• Realising Gilbert Smith's vision for a 'Public Common' on the Whistler Street Triangle site by removing the Whistler Street Carpark to make way for new public spaces and community uses,
• Constructing a new parking station beneath Manly Oval to augment the 5 other town centre parking stations,
• The pedestrianisation of Sydney Road from Belgrave Street through to the Corso to form a 'Gateway Plaza' and 'High Street' for shopping as an alternative destination to The Corso,
• Broadening the appeal of Manly for locals by introducing new community programs as well as new shops and services,
• Revitalising Manly's laneways and streets, many of which have large components which remain un-activated,
• Increasing opportunities for walking and cycling,
• Building new community infrastructure needed by the local community which incorporates sustainable design principles wherever possible,
• Providing better traffic and transport solutions in Manly for people in cars, on public transport and bikes and also for pedestrians,
• Realising over time Gilbert Smith's vision for a Grand Boulevard in Belgrave Street.