Shepherd Street in trouble

As it stands, there is no real solution to the problem of access to the proposed site. If the development goes ahead the main access point to the site’s commercial precinct will be through Shepherd Street. The prospect is cause for grave concern to the street’s residents.

On any weekday during the university semester, Shepherd Street becomes crowded with the foot traffic of students making their way to and from Redfern Station. Coupled with the parking that lines both sides of the apparent two-way street, any further increase in the local population will make it even harder to navigate.

The mix of residential and commercial on the site could see the population of the local area experience daily increases of up to 6000 people. The Redfern Waterloo Authority’s proposed access to the North Eveleigh area through the junction of Wilson and Shepherd Streets will lead to drastic problems for through traffic. Shepherd Street is already too narrow in parts for two cars to pass through and with a further 6000 people in the area it would be impossible to manage.

One Shepherd Street resident, Toby Brennan, said that local residents feel the RWA’s solution of adjusting the cycle of the traffic lights to have a continuos flow of cars is too optimistic.

“They need a blank sheet approach to the site,” he said, criticising the synopsis that was put forward by the RWA. Mr Brennan recognised that, with a primary school on Golden Grove and Codrington Road running though the University there is great difficulty in finding any real alternative route.

He is also indignant toward the authorities and institutions that operate in the local area and Sydney Council’s laissez-faire attitude toward parking. The Council hoped that, by imposing limits on parking spaces in the university, it would limit the amount of cars entering the area, but that has only led to an overflow into surrounding streets, and that just isn’t fair for Darlington residents, he said. The problem is sure to increase once the site is completed.

“We’re the meat in the sandwich,” he added, “And North Eveleigh and the University are two incredibly big pieces of bread.”

Photo: Ali Blogg- Caption: Toby Brennan in Shepherd Street