Residents say Hyams Beach is a village that's been loved to death by tourists, and in the coming weeks, they’re set to receive some tough love of their own.
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Locals are forced to flee their homes around the Christmas period, as the tourist hot spot is plagued with traffic and parking issues.
As Hyams Beach was never designed to be a high traffic area, a number of temporary measures will be put in place from Boxing Day to January 6, to curb the traffic intensity.
A temporary roundabout manned by traffic controllers will be in operation at Naval College Road and Boderee Avenue, from 7am to 7pm during the 10 day period, which will drop the speed limit from 80km/h to 40km/h.
The parking issue will also be addressed, with a cap put on the number of vehicles allowed in the village.
“In the event we have to shut the village [to traffic], we will,” council’s tourism project officer Sharon Neradil said.
While temporary solutions will be put in place, Hyams Beach Residents and Ratepayers Association president Mark Crowther said the community was desperate for a long-term, permanent solution.
“By promoting Hyams Beach as the focus of tourism strategy, but without adequate planning for accompanying infrastructure, [Council has] allowed the environment to be degraded,” he said.
“The traffic problem has to be addressed now to ensure that Hyams Beach remains the crown jewel of Jervis Bay and the amenity and safety for visitors and residents is maintained,” he said.
Despite having just completed a community survey on long-term and short-term solutions for Hyams Beach, council will undertake further traffic and parking surveys during this year’s peak period.
The announcement of further surveys has done little to comfort residents, but rather caused further anger and frustration.
“Council has traffic data going back a number of years plus the ability now to access ‘big data’ to determine traffic and visitor numbers over the past two years,” Mr Crowther said.
“Why waste more time and ratepayers money? Council is delaying the inevitable while villagers’ safety and amenity is compromised.”
During a public meeting on December 8, village residents offered council a number of solutions to fix the traffic and parking problems, including paid parking for out-of-town visitors and a permanent round-about on Naval College Road.
It was clear that people do not want the creation of more parking in the village or a permanent one way system in the north of the village. Bus parking on Rose Street was overwhelmingly rejected.
Council agreed to take the suggestions on board to find a long-term fix.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
