A splash of colour to Manly CBD streets

Manly streets are looking a little different with the installation of colourful graphics on the roads, brightening up the streets, and slowing down cars.

The visual treatments are part of the NSW Governments Streets as Shared Spaces Program trial and are in place until March next year. They provide an alternative to traditional traffic calming infrastructure like speed humps and chicanes, so drivers know they are in a different road environment.

We’ve installed five illustrations to reflect our community and some extraordinary aspects of life on the Northern Beaches.

Fun facts about the designs we’ve chosen:

The Pine Tree (Junction from Sydney Road to Whistler Street) – pine trees, particularly the Norfolk pine are dotted along our coast. They can grow to heights of 60 metres, with a trunk sometimes reaching 3 metres in diameter. While the trunks are characteristically straight, the branches grow in symmetric whirls.

The Cockatoo (Entrance to Whistler Street Carpark from Whistler Street) - with personalities (and their screech) as flashy and dynamic as their crest, you can tell you a lot about how the bird is feeling. A raised crest may be a friendly greeting, a sign of curiosity, or used when the bird is startled.

The Sun (The Corso) – there are some epic vantage points along our beautiful coastline to see the sun rise so it’s no surprise we chose this as one of our designs.

Waves (Darley Road after the traffic lights)– the beach is synonymous with our culture. Year-round you’ll find people enjoying the turquoise waters. Did you know Manly hosted the first-ever Surfing World Titles in 1964, and is now the annual host of the Australian Open of Surfing?

The Weedy Sea Dragon (Darley Road before the traffic lights) – you’ll find these interesting little creatures at home in kelp forests, in sheltered areas like Cabbage Tree Bay away from wave action. Did you know during mating season, female Weedy Seadragons produce up to 250 bright pink eggs, depositing them onto the male’s tail?

Next time you drive or wander the streets of Manly check out these designs and share these facts with your friends.