No respect the heritage streetscape

NSW Parliament (19 December 2014 )

Dear Dr Stokes 

Braidwood Pedestrian Works 

As you are aware Braidwood is a heritage-listed town in the State Heritage Register. Because of its heritage character and location on the Kings Highway between Canberra and the NSW south coast, it is a popular tourist destination. The King's Highway that takes traffic from Canberra to Bateman's Bay passes through its main street, Wallace Street causing congestion during peak 

holiday times. For many years there has been one ‘zebra crossing’ in Wallace Street providing pedestrians with a safe crossing point. Some months ago Braidwood residents requested an additional pedestrian crossing to provide a second safe crossing. 

However, what has been installed into the heritage streetscape are two sets of intrusive 'blisters' with excessive amounts of white concrete. They are to have two large street lights on each. As well, a roundabout is proposed at the intersection of Wallace and Lascelles Streets. The roundabout is to have a high pole with four outreach arms to light the proposed pedestrian refuges at each corner adjacent to the roundabout. 

Although we are well aware of the need for public safety, we are dismayed that such insensitive development works were approved by State Heritage without any modifications to the design to respect the heritage streetscape. Planting is still to be done in the blister garden patches but the wide expanses of white concrete paths create ugly intrusions into the streetscape. 

We the undersigned, are seeking your assistance to mitigate the adverse impact of this government development. We suggest that all the new concrete could be given a natural colour to reduce its glaring contrast with the street. We also recommend that the proposed pole lighting with outreach arms for the proposed roundabout is reconsidered and a more appropriate sympathetic lighting arrangement consistent with the existing lighting in Wallace Street is sought. 

We are members of the Palerang Shire Council’s Heritage Advisory Committee but send you this letter as individuals. We hope that you will support our recommendations and refer them to the relevant government agencies responsible for the works. 

Yours sincerely 

Juliet Ramsay, Kirsty Altenburg, Richard Johnston, Josephine Martin, Elizabeth Estbergs.