Oak Flats Town Centre Upgrades to Improve Pedestrian Safety

Pedestrian safety in the Oak Flats Town Centre is set for improvements with an upgrade project set to kick off next Monday 31 July. 

New pedestrian crossings will be constructed at the roundabout intersection of Central Avenue and Fisher Street Oak Flats as part of Council’s 2023/24 Capital Works Program. 

The improvements will give priority to pedestrians at this high-pedestrian activity and physically reduce vehicular speeds at key crossing points of the Oak Flats Town Centre. 

Mayor of Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer said the upgrades would go a long way towards ensuring pedestrian safety in what had become a busy area. 

“Council is currently undertaking a program of works to improve pedestrian safety in our town centres,” Mayor Homer said. 

“We listened to residents’ concerns about the Oak Flats Town Centre and then invited more community feedback to ensure we addressed these concerns. 

“Accidents involving pedestrians have occurred at one of the key crossing locations in the Oak Flats Town Centre, the intersection of Central Avenue and Fisher Street. Tragically, two of these were fatalities that occurred in 2017 and in 2019. 

“I am really pleased that this important project is getting underway. It will make Oak Flats even safer for pedestrians,” he said. 

The upgrades include: 

• Removal of existing pedestrian crossing infrastructure in the roadway. 
• Construction of ramped concrete pedestrian crossings. 
• Landscaping of new traffic islands.

Reduce maintenance costs through the installation of low maintenance grass at the centre of the roundabout. 
To ensure the safety of commuters and pedestrians, construction will be done in two stages while implementing road closures. 

• Stage 1: August through to mid-September. 
• Stage 2: Mid-September through to late-October. 

Construction will take place between the hours of 7am to 6pm week days and 8am to 1pm Saturdays. The project is scheduled to be completed late October 2023, weather permitting. 

There will be road closures, traffic detours and changes to on-street parking during the construction period. Side street parking will still be available for use. 

Pedestrian access to shops along Central Ave will be uninterrupted. Temporary designated pedestrian points will be established to ensure safe crossings for pedestrians during construction. 

Council received funding for the project through the Australian Government Infrastructure Investment Program. 

The Oak Flats upgrade is just one of several projects Council is undertaking to improve pedestrian safety in the city’s town centres, in partnership with Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW).   

Upgrades are also underway in Shellharbour Village, Warilla CBD and near Warilla Grove Shopping Centre. 

• More information about the Oak Flats Town Centre upgrades here.
• More information about Council’s High Pedestrian Activity Area Road Safety Program here.

Media enquiries: Kelli Wells 0448 361 008