Summary - About Manly 2015 and Its Key Features

Manly2015

The Masterplan aims to bring back the community heart into the centre of Manly.

  • With a new larger library and additional community spaces where a range of leisure, learning and lifestyle programs will be offered for members of the the local community to enjoy.
  • The streets and laneways surrounding the Corso will be transformed over time into world class streetscapes throughout the Manly CBD complementing the iconic ocean beachfront, the Corso and Manly Wharf.
  • What is now Market lane will in the future be a piazza a hub of café culture.
  • Sydney Road, will be pedestrianised and upgraded to attract  a more diverse retail mix.
  • The laneways and side streets of Short Street, Central Avenue and Henrietta lane and even Raglan Street will be reactivated through vastly improved urban design.
  • A new state of the art car park facility is planned to be developed beneath Manly Oval capturing visitor traffic before it gets into local CBD streets.
  • The current Whistler Street Car Park is planned to be replaced with the development of new commercial, retail and residential buildings designed to complement the new community facilities mentioned above.
  • A robust governance and probity structure has been developed to ensure the plan is delivered in a fiscally responsible way and in accordance with Council’s long term financial plan. 
  • Like all masterplans Manly2015 is planned to be implemented in stages. 

MANLY2015 – Fact Sheet ©

The Vision

The Manly2015 Masterplan (Plan) aims to build a stronger local focus and generate greater economic resiliency for Manly by creating a vibrant village heart at the centre of the Manly CBD for local residents who are the Manly community.

The Vision of the Plan:

  • A new and larger library with additional community spaces where a range of leisure, learning and lifestyle programs will be offered for the enjoyment of the local community.
  • The streets and laneways throughout the Manly CBD will be transformed over time into world class streetscapes complementing the iconic Ocean Beachfront, The Corso and Manly Wharf precincts.
  • What is now Market Lane will be transformed into a piazza, and will be the hub of café culture for which Manly is renowned!
  • Sydney Road will be pedestrianised and upgraded to attract a more diverse retail mix.
  • The laneways and side streets of Short Street, Central Avenue and Henrietta Lane, with a possible extension to Raglan Street, will be reactivated through vastly improved urban design.
  • A new state of the art carpark facility is planned to be developed beneath Manly Oval capturing visitor traffic before it congests local CBD streets.
  • The current Whistler Street Carpark is planned to be replaced with the development of a new commercial, retail and residential building designed to complement the new community facilities at the Village Centre

Consultation

In April 2011, Manly2015 was placed on public exhibition at an official launch on the Corso.

During the 6 months public exhibition period, more than 35 presentations were made to community groups, including: Precincts and the Precincts Community Forums Executive, Special Purposes Committees of the Council, the Chamber of Commerce and businesses, stakeholder groups including sporting clubs, and community groups including seniors.

At the close of the consultation period, the Plan received 140 plus submissions with eighty or so participants also registered for online engagement. Of these, 52 were Manly residents.

Submissions received during the process raised the following issues.

  • Oval Carpark
  • Traffic
  • Sustainable Transport & Tram
  • Cost
  • Tourist not Residents
  • Whistler Carpark
  • Support
  • Miscellaneous
  • Library
  • Public Domain

As part of the consultation process, Council provided 2 options for the Village Centre (or triangle site). The majority of respondents (73%) preferred the option to replace the existing building with a new and larger purpose built facility.

In October 2011, in response to feedback received, Council made a number of modifications to the Plan. They included:

  • The deletion of the Raglan Street entrance for the Manly Oval car park
  • Return to two way traffic in Whistler Street
  • Return to two way traffic on the Beach Terrace at the Ocean Beach
  • Insertion of a Bike Lane in Raglan Street to complement that proposed in Belgrave Street

Conclusion

  • Manly2015 is a vision to attract a broader, better quality range of retail /services mix back into the heart of the Manly CBD to boost the local Manly economy. It will do this by providing world class streetscapes and state of the art parking arrangements that will create a positive community and retail experience for shoppers, visitors and locals in Manly.
  • All components of the plan are bankable.
  • See financial summary information section on the Manly 2015 website for more information.