Residents say they were "blindsided" by Wagga City Council over plans to build a bike path on their street, despite council's insistence that they did "extensive" community consultation in 2019.
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One of them is Norman Street resident Pam Hyde, who only heard about the plans for a deluxe shared cycle path on her street two weeks ago.
Ms Hyde has lived on that street for over 60 years, and says that finding parking is already a "nightmare" due to the nearby high school, business college, cafe, and hospital.
Ms Hyde said the on-street parking was so bad that she had finally decided to build a driveway on her property at a significant out of pocket cost.
"It's a nightmare. It gives me honest to god mental health issues," Ms Hyde said.
"I just can't see what we can do. It doesn't matter what we have to say, because it is going to go ahead."
Across the road from her is 20-year-old Blake Larkin, who said it was a daily struggle to get his ute in and out of his driveway due to the densely packed cars.
Mr Larkin said he thought the cyclepath design was "ridiculous", saying it would become even harder to pull out of his own driveway.
"It's hard enough trying to turn this thing around on the street as it is," Mr Larkin said.
A council spokesman said they had reached out to all of the residents along the proposed routes, having done several letter drops since 2019.
"In May 2020 Council completed letter drops for the links under construction, and we have again been in touch with residents prior to the proposed installation of the shared pathway in relation to their property," the spokesman said.
"Letters were delivered directly to residents along all of the proposed routes. At both stages comment was invited from residents in regards to the project."
The spokesman said a few local residents had reached out to council with concerns about disability access due to the proposed rubber barrier bordering the cycle path.
The barrier, known as a Riley Kerb, will be 1.5 metres wide and 9.5 centimetres tall, designed to buffer the cycle path from the rest of the traffic, with breaks in between for driveways and existing pathways.
The spokesman said they would build additional breaks in the kerbing for residents who ask for it.
"The Riley Kerb will be in place adjacent to existing kerb only, with breaks for driveways and existing pathways that access the roadside. It is no different from the infrastructure that is already in place currently. Additional breaks in kerbing can be designed in response to resident's requests," he said.
"The "On Road" shared paths are installed beside the existing concrete kerb, the safest place for cyclists and other shared-path users such as runners, with car parking alongside, separated by this rubber barrier. This design ensures a 1.5m buffer between the cyclists and the new parking lane, whilst not reducing the car park space. The roads will be line marked to define the new widths of travel lanes, the relocation of parking spaces and the shared path."
Beckwith Street resident Eric Board, who "instigated" his neighbours to send complaint letters to council, has sent alternative design plans to council.
The plans put the cycle path on the inside of the road, with parking spaces on the outside next to the nature strip.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
