The Beagle Editor,
FLOATING BRIDGE COULD ADD 10-25% TO PROPERTY VALUES
Like many parts of our community, Long Beach is “car isolated”.
The only travel alternative is a return, twenty kilometres, limited bus service to Batemans Bay along the Princes Highway – or test the B-Doubles with a bicycle.
Long Beach residents have long sought a shorter walking and/or bicycle option to Batemans Bay.
Alas, access to the Bay across Cullendulla Creek is currently limited to swimming.
According to 2015 Council traffic counts, there are approximately 1200 vehicles that travel each day between Long Beach and Batemans Bay, a return trip of about 20km. This equates to an annual vehicle running cost per household for this trip of about $1000 – not including fixed vehicle costs.
A walking, bicycle option for Long Beach residents (4km return to Batemans Bay), with a simple floating bridge across Cullendulla Creek, would potentially save residents up to $1000 per annum for those that choose not to drive.
If residents chose to “sell/give up one car” entirely, annual savings of around $10,000 per household are possible.
A simple floating bridge, based on a marina concept would add value to properties, offer an alternative, healthy travel option and allow those no longer allowed to drive, the opportunity to continue to live in the area. Even the kids would have the opportunity to walk to school.
And, up to 1000 traffic movements per day are potentially eliminated from Batemans Bay Bridge.
A marina option (there are boats already resting at the entrance to Cullendulla Creek), could finance such a project – the immediate, inevitable barrier when these ideas are put forward to Council and Government.
In comparable communities around Australia (and indeed the western world), property values have increased by around 10-25%, where travel alternatives to the private motor car have been made available.
Peter Moore
(Executive Director, International Association of Public Transport (Australia/New Zealand, 1994-2011)
