Willoughby South Progress Association

Effecting progress in the Willoughby South region

Willoughby South - Our Community

Local News

HELP!!!!

Rain, hail or shine, School Crossing Supervisors are essential to helping our littlest community members get to and from school safely each day.

Being a School Crossing Supervisor is a great way to get out and about and earn an income without making great compromises on your time.
As you know, School Crossing Supervisors play a vital role in providing essential protection for primary school students, many of whom are among the most vulnerable road users.
Without adequate supervision, the likelihood of traffic-related incidents increases, placing children, families, and motorists at heightened risk.
TNSW are seeking a PPT School Crossing Supervisor for the Willoughby Public School. Link to information pack:

 

From 6am Monday 8 June 2026, a permanent traffic change will be introduced to the Brook Street southbound on ramp as part of the Warringah Freeway Upgrade.
 
The change will improve safety and traffic flow by reducing lane crossing movements as vehicles enter the freeway from Brook Street.
Drivers entering from Brook Street will continue to have access to Sydney Harbour Bridge, Cahill Expressway and Alfred Street, however access to Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the Military Road/Falcon Street off ramp will be removed.
Drivers who usually travel via Sydney Harbour Tunnel are encouraged to use Cahill Expressway to access the Eastern Distributor or city.
A new zipper merge will also be introduced where Brook Street and Miller Street on ramps join. Please follow signage and merge safely.
 
 
Summary of the change
The change integrates the Brook Street on ramp into the new Miller Street on ramp and prevents vehicles from crossing over multiple lanes of the freeway as they enter at Brook Street. This improves safety and efficiency of the freeway, one of the major objectives of the Warringah Freeway Upgrade project. It removes access to Sydney Harbour Tunnel and the southbound off ramp to Military Road/Falcon Street, however, access is retained to Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Cahill Expressway and Alfred Street of ramp. Access is also not affected for drivers who use the slip lane to West Street and Amherst Street, Cammeray. Drivers who typically use Sydney Harbour Tunnel are encouraged to use Cahill Expressway to access the Eastern Distributor or city.
 
For drivers who use the Miller Street on ramp, this change introduces a new merge point along the on ramp, where the lanes from Miller Street and Brook Street on ramps join via a zipper merge, in which the car behind gives way to the car in front.
 
We are not anticipating any significant traffic impacts, such as rat running or congestion, from this change. However, we do expect that some drivers may need some time to adjust to this new arrangement.
 
Communications campaign
To make sure the community and drivers are aware of the change, we are running a large communications campaign, including community notifications, targeted social media advertising, media release, a VMS strategy and online website information. Third party map providers, such as Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps, will also be updated.
 
Shareable comms materials
If you would like to help share this information among your own community that would be appreciated. I’ve attached some images, which you are welcome to use.
 
Helpful links:
Main traffic change page: nswroads.work/wfu-changes
Link to community notification: https://media.caapp.com.au/wiiiouxrkzLI.pdf
 
Visit nswroads.work/wfu-changesor Live Traffic NSW for more information

Click on this LINK to take you to the NSW Government page for comment.

Help Shape the Future of Transport on the Northern Beaches

The Northern Beaches Network Review examines how the transport network serving the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore is performing and where improvements can be made.

The Review looks at how we can improve travel in and around the Northern Beaches with a focus on practical proposals that can be delivered in the short to medium term.

The goal is to make the transport network work better for everyone, improving efficiency and supporting more people to choose public and active transport. They are at the early stages of planning and what we focus on next will be shaped by resident feedback.

Tell them what you think

To have your say:

  • Tell them what you think about the opportunities identified by clicking on the locations in the map link attached. Give them a thumbs up/down if you want this location prioritised, and add your comments
  • Select “Add Marker” to provide feedback you may have about any other areas/intersections/roads etc.

Your insights will help refine priorities and shape practical, community focused solutions from the opportunities and initiatives identified.

They want to hear about your experience using the transport network: how you travel, when you travel, and whether the challenges and opportunities we’ve identified reflect what you see day to day.

Willoughby Leisure Centre Redevelopment Update. 

February 2026

Quoted text below from the Willoughby Leisure Centre team. 
 

What’s next and opening timeframe

We had initially hoped to open the new facility in early 2026, but we are now forecasting an opening around August or September 2026. Whilst construction is progressing well, and the building is now 94% complete, a range of finishing items is taking slightly longer than anticipated.

 As you can see from the picture the new facility is looking stunning and the pools will soon be filled with water to enable testing of the plant and equipment.

We’re preparing for opening, including installing new systems to streamline online bookings for the swimming school, along with staff recruitment and training.

 Once the building finishes construction, Council will then undertake final system commissioning, safety testing, and completing staff inductions and rehearsals to ensure the Centre can open. During this time, access to the gym will be unavailable to the public, due to ongoing construction and commissioning activities.

 Please be aware the opening date is still dependant on the normal construction risks and builder finishing construction, and we will keep you informed regularly as construction progresses, and we hope to announce a formal opening date in the coming months.

 Fees and member loyalty offers

 We received feedback from the public exhibition of the swim and aquatic fees and are now in the final stages of preparing the fees and charges for the new Centre. Please be assured that we will be considering special loyalty rates and offers for existing members to recognise your support.

 Council will soon be considering the fees and charges at an upcoming Council Meeting. Once the fees and charges have been approved, we’ll be in touch with details about membership options, pricing, and loyalty offers.

 

 What to look forward to at the new Centre

 As a reminder, the new facility includes

  • Eight-lane 25m lap pool – new and expanded for training and fitness swimming
  • Dedicated learn-to-swim pool – specifically designed for swim school programs
  • Warm-water 25m program pool – for aqua-fitness, rehabilitation and therapy
  • Children’s splash zone – safe, engaging water play area
  • New spa and sauna – relaxation and recovery amenities
  • A café at the heart of the building, designed as a place to relax and connect

 When the Centre opens, you’ll be able to enjoy a full swim school program with online bookings, an expanded group fitness timetable, and aquatic fitness classes in the dedicated program pool.

 Thank you again for your patience and continued support. We are looking forward to welcoming you back and sharing this fantastic new facility with you.

 Kind regards,

Willoughby Leisure Centre

 News: 8th January 2026.

Artarmon’s “Bowlo” close to opening.

An adaptive reuse of the former Artarmon Bowling Clubhouse, the new structure is a designed based on the principles of community, sustainability, and recognition of the site’s heritage. 

The structure is fully accessible, and features a range of energy efficient technologies, including solar panels and rainwater harvesting.

It incorporates a community room, kitchen, all-weather community pavilion, and new public bathrooms. Landscaped terraces and ramps are connect to the pavilion with the adjoining playground and passive recreation spaces.

Click here

10th December 2025

 
▪️Membership of all 4  Willoughby Council Community Advisory Committees – Access & Inclusion, Active & Integrated Transport, Bushland & Natural Heritage & Sustainability – will finally be approved next Monday then the Council is on a break till Feb ‘26. 
 
▪️Council wants ideas about how it can support the activation of local centres in 2026. It could involve music, low/no cost rent of footpaths, street fairs, markets, extended trading support, promotional activity and regulatory reviews. WSPA invites residents & businesses to post/share ideas here. LINK
Link to Coucil Report 15.12.25

5th December 2025  – Edward Street Upgrade

In the last three years the Willoughby South Community provided feedback on a project to improve the streetscape at Edward Street and Penshurst South.

 Project background information is available using this link Have Your Say Willoughby site

Council will consider a report including the latest engagement outcomes at its Meeting on Monday 15 December 2025.

More information:

  • Should you wish to address Council on this issue, you can find information about how register to speak at the Open and Public Forum on Monday 10 December 2025  using this link
  • Please note that there is no opportunity to address Council at the Meeting on 15 December 2025 when the item is being considered.
Edward Street Plans Stage 1
Edward Street Plans Stage 2
33 Artarmon

Walter Street looking west.

Walter Street Development nearing completion. 24.11.25

 

The long suffering residents of Walter Street can finally start to see the end of a long tunnel as the scaffold comes down and the plantings are nearing completion.

There is still some road works at Willoughby Road, and the turn around area is still a work in progress, but the majority of Walter Street is now complete, and the latest development for Willoughby South ends it’s construction phase.

Good to see bushcare are still working on the Nine to Walter Street bush path, and a zebra crossing has been installed on the path to Hallstrom Park, allowing a walking path from NINE all the way to Tunks Park now.

12th November 2025:

Willoughby City Council have posted up a development application for a new multi storey block of ~30 units on Penshurst Street, on the block between Willoughby Girls basketball court and the vacant block next to the post office.

Apart from the construction disruption this will have on both WPS and WGHS during development, once complete this may lead to overshadowing of playground space, increased traffic along Medway Lane and loss of potential future amenity for this already constrained site that has 2000 kids, as well as the adjacent OOSH facility at Willoughby Kids House.

Whilst we understand the need for more housing, is this necessarily the best location? Both the P&Cs at WPS and WGHS are looking into this and expect to arrange parental inputs in due course. You can also see more detail and provide feedback to council in the WCC DA page.

November 2025: Speed Zones on Willoughby Road.
Along Mowbray Road, Willoughby the speed limit is 50km/h. 
On Willoughby Road going south from Naremburn Shops towards Crows Nest it is also 50kms, but on Willoughby Road between Mowbray and Naremburn it is 60km/h – straight through our local shopping strip! 
 
As Willoughby Road is a NSW state controlled road, WSPA wrote to Council asking them to raise this anomaly with Transport for NSW and try and get some clarification  for these differences. This was over a year ago.
 
We are aware that speed limits are being lowered (to 40km/h) in some Sydney metropolitan areas. WSPA is interested in residents views about this.
 

Please contact us, or come to the next meeting on Tuesday 18th November, 7pm at the Naremburn Community centre. All interested parties welcome.

Nov. 2025: The Service Station on the corner of Penkivil Street and Willoughby Road is currently undergoing alterations, and operating hours are believed to be changing from the current 11pm close to a 24/7 operation.

The change of hours will require a change to the DA, and concerned parties are encouraged to contact Willoughby Council for more information.

WSPA will investigate this further and residents are encouraged to come to the next meeting to raise concerns or express agreement or support.

 

The next meeting will be the AGM on Tuesday 18th November 2025, to be held at the Naremburn Community Centre. 7pm. ALL WELCOME.