Submission to stop the development of proposed trial bicycle lane on Clarence Street - Beach Street, Woolgoolga.

BACKGROUND: - Coffs Harbour City Council has invited submissions to the proposed trial bicycle lane on Clarence Street - Beach Street, Woolgoolga, by way of “Have your Say”.

I am writing to provide my non-support in relation to this proposed development on the following basis. 

I am a current rate payer / occupier of a business/residential premises located on the Northern Side of Clarence Street and Northern Side of Beach Street, Woolgoolga. The proposed development of the trial bicycle lane is planned without any consultation with the current stakeholders and is going to negatively impact everyone.
The proposed trial bicycle lane is going to cause the reduction of over 50 parking spots on Beach Street, Woolgoolga between Bultitude Street to Wharf Street, Woolgoolga. The current parking is rear to the curb at 45 degrees but the proposed parking in this trial bicycle lane is parallel to the bicycle lane which is pushing close to 1 Metre away from the travelling bicycle riders.
The loss of over 50 parking spots, is a significant loss for the customers and business owners at Woolgoolga RSL, Woolgoolga Pizza Place, Magic Smiles Woolgoolga (Previously known as Woolgoolga Dental Practice), Woolgoolga Neighbourhood Centre, Vision Real Estate and Beach Street Family Practice. Less parking means less customers. Less customers means less business.
There are more driveway exits located on Clarence Street and Beach Street, Woolgoolga which can be dangerous blind spots to bicycle riders travelling along this proposed trial bicycle lane. Nil risk assessment has been conducted in relation to each driveway. 
The road condition is poor on the proposed trial bicycle lane and to fix the road will increase the cost to develop this proposed trial bicycle lane.
The financial cost to develop a trial bicycle lane is a significant financial risk based on the above reasons as it may or may not succeed to be a permanent bicycle lane. This financial assistance provided by the NSW State Government can be spent on a much wiser project that will provide some safer environment and future parking needs for our coastal town.
CHCC can consider, Southern Side of Clarence Street and Southern Side of Beach Street, Woolgoolga as prospective locations of this proposed trial bicycle lane, because it will cause no loss of parking spots, better safety for the riders near fewer driveways exit as compared to Northern Side of the Clarence Street and Beach Street, Woolgoolga. There are not many businesses on the Southern side that will lose parking spots.

I strongly suggest CHCC to invite further consultation with the impacted community members for any future development plans.