Artarmon Village Inc, the chamber of commerce for the Artarmon shopping strip, welcomes the election of two new Naremburn Ward councillors, Georgie Roussac and Anna Greco, plus a new mayor, Tanya Taylor, and the re-election of councillor Nic Wright at the local elections in December.

This gives us hope that Willoughby City Council may improve its involvement with local shopkeepers regarding redevelopments. We understand the NSW government has allocated the council $4 million to redevelop the shopping precinct around Artarmon Station. However, we doubt readers of Artarmon Gazette will know this from the council which is poor at communications and consultation.

 Council officers have made more effort in recent months and we would like to meet chief executive, Debra Just, soon.

By the time of going to print, we will have a new MP for Willoughby. As a candidate, Tim James contacted AVI before the election to discuss the future of Artarmon shops. We welcome and encourage strong collaboration with whoever has been elected.

Thanks go to Gladys Berejiklian for her excellent civic service since 2003 and best wishes for the future.

While acknowledging there will be many positives about the council’s plans, our concerns include: • the likely loss of more convenient parking spaces, after parking has already been reduced last year • too much emphasis on kerbside extensions and on one traffic lane when two are sensible in congested areas • narrowing of Hampden Road by one metre between Jersey and Broughton roads.

We believe it is highly unusual that the professional design firm the council engaged has not contacted the retailers to discuss our needs or hear our concerns – and ideas. Artarmon Village Inc has developed a 15-point plan for the shopping precinct.

They include:

•  improve the facade of the shops between Jersey and Francis roads by introducing a consistent style and colouring to groups of shops
•  converting the underused section of Artarmon Green on the east side of Hampden Road immediately north of the railway station exit to an area for music performances, farmers markets, a pop-up coffee shop and the like
• close Broughton Road at Hampden Road to link the two blocks of shops, improve pedestrian safety and create another small precinct with table and chairs.

“This is the Artarmon Village section of the Artarmon Gazette. To read the full copy of the Gazette please click here“