In her role as Chamber Vice President, Tracey Mietzke represented the Chamber at the Manly Place Plan Project Working Group.
Gone are the days when The Corso merely served as a thoroughfare; it’s time to reactivate it as a public space that everyone can enjoy.
This statement was the starting point for the report titled “Manly Commercial Vision,” commissioned by the Manly Business Chamber back in 2019 and submitted to Northern Beaches. It identified key strengths and weaknesses of Manly’s CBD and provided recommendations to support a sustainable, vibrant and celebrated CBD in Manly. The report specifically highlighted The Corso as being in dire need of attention from the Council, which would also benefit the laneways and streets that connect to it.
When Council sought feedback from various stakeholders, including the Manly Business Chamber, to contribute to the current Manly Place Plan, we provided substantial commentary and included the Manly Commercial Vision report. However, much of this feedback appears to be missing from the final Manly Place Plan document addressed at last night’s Council meeting. (25 June 2024)
For instance, although the Manly Commercial Vision document was referenced during the initial work on the Place Plan, it is scarcely mentioned in the final version. Furthermore, a submission from the Chamber, in collaboration with the esteemed local firm McGregor+Coxall, who are celebrated landscape architects and consultants, also seems underrepresented.
Therefore, at last nights Council meeting, Chamber Committee member Tracey Mietzke sought a further review of the Manly Place Plan and integration of the McGregor+Coxall report (which was generously offered pro-bono). This report provided an alternative concept design that highlighted opportunities for The Corso and surrounding areas, creating a welcoming heart and soul for Manly. This design skillfully leverages the natural beauty of Manly while being commercially viable, with concepts deliverable in stages to accommodate budget constraints.
In the short term, within the next 12 months, the Chamber has requested:
· Wayfinding signage
· Comfortable and attractive street furniture
· An integrated approach to loading zones
· Extended free parking
· Additional green spaces
· And importantly, outdoor dining opportunities
For the longer term, we proposed:
- Addressing The Corso with a consolidated plan to increase dwell time, outdoor dining, and entertainment opportunities, making it a destination that encourages both local and tourist visitation
- Supporting the local economy by increasing building heights in the CBD in a sympathetic and holistic manner for commercial office use. Utilising the CBD as a prime commercial area supports local businesses during the day, fostering a sustainable and vibrant environment for both locals and tourists both inside and outside of the usual business ‘body clock’.
While the Chamber acknowledges the extensive work the Council has done towards creating the Manly Place Plan, it’s time for the local and wider community to see tangible action. Currently, a Special Levy paid by property owners and local businesses contributes $1.4 million per year, yet we have not seen these funds, intended specifically for improving infrastructure on The Corso and CBD, being utilised as planned. We are requesting that the Council allocate these funds solely for their original purpose, rather than on items that should be covered by the higher rates property owners already pay in the Manly CBD.
At the end of the day, it’s clear that change needs to occur. The Manly Place Plan is a good start, but we need to see strong short-term wins while we wait for the longer-term actions and are grateful a decision on this current Place Plan has been deferred for another month.
We all want a vibrant, welcoming CBD that attracts both locals and tourists, supporting a sustainable economy for future generations.
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