Over 4 years after NBC and its planning panel approved the DA for 351 Barrenjoey Rd (the old Avocado Tree) the demolition of the old buildings commenced with the approval and lodgement of the Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP).
On Tuesday June 16 part of the wall being demolished collapsed, causing scaffolding to veer over Robertson road and the closure of it and the main Barrenjoey Road to all traffic for hours until the site could be secured.
Live Traffic still advises ''Robertson Road is closed due to an earlier incident. Pedestrian diversions are also in place. - Reported By Northern Beaches Council, Ph: 1300 434 434'' - although the main road was opened several hours later.
Live Traffic screenshot taken Saturday June 20 2026
There will be major changes during the term of this build:
1. Robertson Rd Parking – all the parking opposite the site in Robertson Rd is removed during the construction phase estimated to last until December 2027.
2. Site hours – Monday to Friday 7am to 5pm – Saturday 8am to 1pm – Night work may happen but separate approvals needed.
3. Robertson Rd Special events – the council has not planned any to occur during the construction phase – another impact to Newport, already showing too many empty commercial premises
4. Construction Phase truck traffic – concrete trucks plan to reverse down Robertson Rd from Foamcrest Ave to the site, while demolition, excavation and construction traffic will enter RR from Barrenjoey and exit via Foamcrest.
During the construction phase trucks will be, per the proponents Traffic Management Plan:
a) Approach and Departure Routes
• Approach Route (Site Access) – Traveling northbound along Barrenjoey Road, turn left onto Robertson Road and then turn right onto the site in a forward-facing direction.
• Departure Route (Site Access) – In a forward-facing direction exit the site and turn right onto Robertson Road, turn left onto Foamcrest Avenue, turn left onto Seaview Avenue and then turn onto Barrenjoey Road.
• Approach Route (Robertson Road Slip Lane) – Traveling northbound along Barrenjoey Road, turn left onto Robertson Road and then stand in the slip lane in a forward-facing direction.
• Departure Route (Robertson Road Slip Lane) – In a forward-facing direction exit the slip lane and continue along Robertson Road, turn left onto Foamcrest Avenue, turn left onto Seaview Avenue and then turn onto Barrenjoey Road.
This strongly opposed DA (DA2020/1756), approved in February 2022 and costed then at $7,055,446, with the site selling again on April 23 2024 for $5 million, has a carport entrance on Robertson Road and poor interaction with the street, residents state. The building is designed to stand in isolation to the precinct, rather than be part of future planning, and may not, in the assessment of residents, be of benefit to Newport.
Those who have recently eaten at kerbside in Palm Beach will know the roar of heavy lorries incessantly passing by, still carting away the hillsides of Palm Beach under other passed DA plans, does not make for the peace needed to be able to hear what those at your own table are saying. These businesses lose peaceful access to areas they are charged rental fees on and their business loses customers as a result of the roar of truck noise and developments occurring alongside them.
It is worth noting that in NSW, businesses severely impacted by adjacent developments can seek compensation for economic loss or property damage under common law (such as the tort of private nuisance).
In a 2023 class action the NSW Supreme Court judgment relating to the development of the Sydney Light Rail (SLR) network, found there had been “significant and unreasonable” interference with local small businesses, resulting in economic loss.
While the Court acknowledged the development will invariably result in some impact on business within the area, it found that the impact had become significant and unreasonable due to foreseeable, and therefore avoidable, delays in the completion of work.
Although the successful plaintiffs were particularly susceptible to the effects of the construction activities, with expectations that there could be up to 3,500 further class members, the Court warned that the proceedings would not make for a “particularly apt vehicle” for the class action given the nuances of the facts.
The court found the disruption to businesses along the route was “far in excess of what was planned or promised” when the long-delayed project was first announced.
The court ruled the businesses would not be compensated for losses incurred for the entire period of construction, as some interference during work was “reasonable”.
However, the court found compensation could be awarded for the period where avoidable construction delays caused the resulting inconvenience to be “unreasonable”. This was one year for a leather goods shop and 18 months for the restaurants impacted by the works. The amount of compensation was to be determined at a later hearing.
This week residents have posted photos on social media of businesses beyond the construction site, including along the main road, having the pavement that leads to their doors blocked as well.
Main Barrenjoey road, June 18 2026. Photo: courtesy Doug C
The Newport Village Commercial Centre Masterplan was developed and adopted by Pittwater Council on November 5th 2007 after consultation with Newport residents and community input. The masterplan focuses on the commercial core along Barrenjoey Road and includes the side streets. As part of the masterplan study, Pittwater Council investigated the linkages between the commercial centre and the oceanfront areas to identify strategies to strengthen the relationship between the village, beach and community centre and included a preliminary proposal for a small urban plaza in Robertson Road.
The rationale for identifying Robertson road as such then was:
- to create a village ‘heart’, edged by active uses
- to consolidate the existing pedestrian focus on Robertson Road, effectively creating more frontage
- to take advantage of the northern orientation for sun access
- to create a haven from the main road but still located in the centre of the village, close to the proposed signalised crossing to the beach
Further:
''There was broad support for the principles and considerable discussion about how to achieve them, in particular the potential for and desirability of a civic plaza. Whatever form this might take, there was consensus that Newport would benefit from a “heart’ or focus for the community, and that a location in the middle of the village, for example on Robertson Road, would be appropriate.'' (HBO + EMTB URBAN & LANDSCAPE DESIGN NEWPORT VILLAGE COMMERCIAL CENTRE MASTERPLAN page 25.)
And;
The Public Domain Character aspect states; ''Design Robertson Road to be able to be closed off to vehicle traffic for special events (for example street markets) that open the whole street and associated public plaza to pedestrians. '' (HBO + EMTB URBAN & LANDSCAPE DESIGN NEWPORT VILLAGE COMMERCIAL CENTRE MASTERPLAN page 37)
This week a few insights from what has occurred in Robertson Road, including the killing of the Lemon Myrtle tree on the perimeter of the site to forward the construction, demonstrated why it was vital to ensure this much used as a pedestrian street was maintained as a public space.
At the Local Traffic Committee Meeting held March 4 2025 the Committee approved to implement global traffic management plans (TMPs) for four locations across the peninsula, Kalang road at Elanora Heights and Robertson road at Newport among these.
as part of the NSW Government's Plug & Play activation of street spaces.
The Permit/Plug/Play Pilot Program is an $8.5 million partnership grant program with 17 pilot councils across NSW.
The Program aims to reduce the cost and complexity of delivering street-based events through an innovative “local problems, local solutions” model.
The approval for the Newport TMP is centred around Robertson Road shopfronts. The TMP layout will make use of Robertson Road, from Barrenjoey Road to Foamcrest Avenue, which will be closed for each event. This location will offer a spacious and secure area for large crowds to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, cafes and a range of street-based events.
''The global traffic management plan will facilitate the closure of Robertson Road, from Barrenjoey Road to Foamcrest Avenue, to accommodate events with up to 1,000 attendees between 11:30 am and 5:00 pm. During the event, 11 short-term on-street parking spaces will be affected, as well as properties 351, 353, 357 and the Australia Post carpark, which will be closed for the duration of the event. However, there are 517 on- and off-street parking spaces within 350m of the event site, and there is many walking, cycling and public transport options available for travel to Newport. The road closure will not impact any public bus routes.'' the approval states
The Northern Beaches Council has facilitated and promoted activations in the commercial centre as well, the Newport Spring Festival being one popular example.
As pointed out by the Save Robertson Road community group, all that will now go on hold until at least January 2028.
The commercial centre in Newport is struggling. Residents told the news service last month (May 2026) there are currently 18 vacancies along the shopping strip, although that may be one less as of Friday May 22 2026 - Sarah Cowley of Haven and Sarah has moved her very popular florist and homewares shop to 323a Barrenjoey road Newport after 12 years in Avalon Village.
One thing is sure - residents need to support the Robertson Road businesses even more over this period as all are, essentially, blocked from trading freely and safely, without noise and dust disrupting their adjacent premises. With construction overruns, these businesses are likely be be impacted for two Summer Season peak times, along with losing access for regular customers throughout the year and a half of construction.
The Save Robertson Road group has commenced doing just that this week on social media, running little insights of 'The People of Robertson Road' and those businesses and those people whose businesses they are.
A the pre-council meeting 'community forum' of May 2026, President of the Newport Residents Association Gavin Butler addressed the councillors present.
The Newport Residents Association is an organisation of residents whose concerns are the welfare and advancement of that area, in general and Newport in particular. The Newport Residents Association was originally established as the Newport Progress Association in 1933 (however there is evidence the association was actually operating just prior to the turn of the century) and in 2004 it became an incorporated association changing its name at that time to better reflect its aims and objectives.
Mr Butler kindly provided his address - which reads:
Councillors,
My name is Gavin Butler, and I am President of the Newport Residents Association.
This review accurately summarises what the community has been saying for years: the Newport Village Commercial Centre Masterplan remains a valuable framework to guide the future growth of Newport Village.
It recognises that the current planning controls encourage coordinated development and site amalgamation, particularly around Robertson Road, where access, parking and amenity issues require careful management.
But the central issue remains unresolved.
What this review does not address is the need for leadership from Northern Beaches Council itself.
Option 2 in the report proposes further studies — potentially costing close to half a million dollars — including feasibility work and another comprehensive review. Yet we must ask: what will another expensive document achieve if there is still no determination within Council to actively lead the implementation of the vision already before it?
Over many years, parts of the Masterplan have been implemented, but the critical elements needed to unlock the village’s full potential have stalled through lack of coordination and leadership.
Council is not a bystander in this process. Northern Beaches Council is one of the largest landholders in the Robertson Road and Foamcrest Avenue precinct, particularly when public roads and pavements are considered.
That places Council in a unique position — and with that position comes responsibility.
There is only one organisation capable of coordinating the successful evolution of Newport Village as a whole, and that is Northern Beaches Council.
Yet the community has repeatedly been told that coordination of this kind is “not Council’s role.”
We respectfully disagree.
A core function of local government should be to guide and optimise the future of the communities it governs — not simply regulate them from a distance. Other councils have demonstrated this leadership successfully, including Lane Cove.
The people of Newport are not asking for endless reviews. They are asking for vision, commitment and action and we again suggest that council appoint an urban designer to look at the Newport/Robertson road precinct to assist with that vision.
If Council chooses not to lead the future planning of its own centres, then the community is entitled to ask: what is the purpose of local government at all?
After a discussion at the Tuesday May 19 2026 council meeting, led by Pittwater Councillor and former Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce president Rowie Dillon, Councillors resolved that:
1. Council endorse retention of the Newport Masterplan as the overarching strategic framework to guide future planning of the Newport village commercial centre.
2. Council undertake targeted place-based initiatives to seek to strengthen vibrancy, connectivity and resilience within the village centre.
3. The Council working group be dissolved and members thanked for their contribution to the review and their interest in planning for the Newport village centre.
4. Council encourage the establishment of a community-led and coordinated working group to respond to emerging needs and issues, with participation by available ward Councillors and Council staff as appropriate.
Newport Cheers: Pittwater Business drinks
Both the Newport and Mona Vale Chambers of Commerce are working to activate Pittwater village commercial centres and support local small businesses.
On June 25 2026, this coming Thursday an event will take place in Newport to bring everyone together.
The Mona Vale Chamber of Commerce states:
'Join us in Newport for relaxed after-work drinks to help launch Pittwater Business and bring local businesses together in a genuinely easy, low-pressure way. Come say g’day to other owners and operators from across Pittwater, hear what the pilot is about, and be part of something local from the start.
Drinks are on us — just bring yourself (and feel free to bring another local business owner).
When: Thursday 25 June, 5:00pm–7:00pm
Where: 4 Pines Newport, 313 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport
Cost: Complimentary drinks (RSVP essential).
Spots are limited, so please RSVP to help us plan.
To RSVP, please visit: HERE
Spots are limited, so please RSVP to help us plan.'
Meanwhile, both residents and business owners in Newport are hoping normal trade can be restored once the demolition and excavations for the underground car park for the new build are completed.
Robertson Road - named after Andrew Robertson, local businessman. He had a store in Newport and was President of the surf club from 1924 to 1930. He helped found the Newport Parents and Citizens Association in 1923. He and his wife had two sons, Colin and Gordon, who is remembered as being a great sweep for Newport SLSC surf boat crews. Apparently 'Andy' was a zither player. He passed away on September 22nd, 1931.
Robertson's store in Newport - photo courtesy Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.