Council Push for Metro rail to Dee Why - Brookvale: Transport Network Review 2026 Feedback Closes June 15
School Traffic Jam on the First Day Back to School in 2019 - at North Avalon. With one road in an out of Pittwater, traffic builds up right along Barrenjoey road. This also occurs during Summer and other Public holidays throughout the year
On Wednesday May 20 the council announced it is calling for robust action and strong investment by the NSW Government into the local road and transport network, to address increasing congestion and lack of infrastructure.
See March 2026 report: Contract awarded for Wakehurst Parkway Works + Local Road Network Review Open for Feedback until June 8 (NB: new date now June 15 2026)
The council stated its submission to Transport for NSW (TfNSW) supported the Northern Beaches Network Review as an important step in tackling longstanding transport challenges, while highlighting that wider constraints, growing demand and emerging issues fall outside the specific corridors identified in the Review area.
'The Review addressed several concerns consistently raised by the community reflecting residents’ lived experience of commuting to work, travelling within the local area and accessing key centres across the region' the council states, 'however Council identified high-level strategic priorities and opportunities for further collaboration as part of the Review including':
- continued need for critical enabling infrastructure projects
- public transport reliability and bus priority, including services north of Mona Vale
- investigation of a mass transport solution such as a Metro rail to Dee Why and Brookvale
- active transport including grade separated cycle paths
- engagement on bottlenecks and corridor constraints
- identifying missing or unsafe active transport gaps
- planning for growth areas including Frenchs Forest, Brookvale and Dee Why
- long-term strategic actions to support continued growth across the Northern Beaches.
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby began calling for critical infrastructure to be placed before planning decisions to allow increased denisty in the Pittwater area, particularly Mona Vale, which has been targeted and will now allow developments of up to six storeys.
See March 2025 report: Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby calls on Minns government to shelve Low to Mid-Rise Housing until the bus crisis - Mona Vale Road are fixed
Mayor Sue Heins said state government housing reforms would increase density and make the battle to get in, out and around the Northern Beaches even more difficult.
“Over many years, Northern Beaches residents have been promised traffic and transport solutions, and while we welcome improvements like the introduction of the B-line and the upgrades to Mona Vale Road, they are not enough,” Mayor Heins said.
“While we welcome this Review, it fails to provide any long-term solutions that would substantially improve public transport outcomes. The Review needs to better recognise the issues residents face every day with limited bus services, reliability and reducing travel times, particularly on key corridors to the CBD and major employment centres.
“With only a few roads in and out of our peninsula, and density increasing due to the state government’s housing push, a range of long-term solutions need to be considered and invested in now. Tinkering around the edges will not make meaningful improvements to our roads or transport systems or address the issues we face now and into the future.
“We will continue to advocate for our community, and work with TfNSW to ensure proposed initiatives are integrated, future-focused and responsive to the evolving needs of our community.
“I would encourage the community to also raise concerns through this process before the 15 June deadline.” Ms Heins said this week
The Review examines key arterial corridors including Mona Vale Road, Warringah Road, Military Road / Spit Road, Pittwater Road and the Pacific Highway.
The council stated its submission provides feedback on the identified challenges and opportunities and outlines matters requiring further investigation, collaboration and refinement by Transport for NSW.
To make a public submission on the Northern Beaches Network Review, visit the NSW Government website.
Mid-afternoon pre-school let out Monday traffic at Mona Vale - photo taken in February 2023. Traffic has increased since then.