It was the most unpopular option according to community feedback, but Bega Valley Shire Council is set to go ahead with it anyway.
Beach Street in Merimbula set to be turned into a one-way road between Market and Main Streets despite 66% of local businesses loudly objecting to it.
The number of parking places in the CBD will also reduce by 16.
“We decided on the trial process for Beach Street to have Beach Street as a one way street for a period of time to see how that goes, but that allows us a maximum beautification area ,” Mayor Fitzpatrick said.
“We’ll change some of the parking along there and around those things but hopefully it’ll be a better outcome for the community,” he said.
“All the consultation was based on the original plan that council put out previously and what was sent to the councillors as options was quite different to that.
“There was some changes around what was actually out for the consultation and what was preceded by council staff. So council staff listened to the consultation, changed some of the plans and recommendations around that the best they could to meet all the traffic requirements as well.”
Three councillors have voted against the trial turning Beach Street in Merimbula town centre into one-way thoroughfare.
Mitchell Nadin, Peggy Noble and David Porter backed the community who told the council they were dead against the move.
