Tag: Palm Beach

Avalon Beach To Palm Beach Road Safety Works Set To Start

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Road safety works are set to begin across the Avalon to Palm Beach route, with upgrades planned in Avalon Beach, Whale Beach and Palm Beach to improve local streets for pedestrians, school children and other road users.

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Avalon To Palm Beach Works Move Into Construction

Road safety upgrades across Avalon Beach, Whale Beach and Palm Beach are moving into construction, with works planned across the designated zones from May to July 2026.

The works form part of the Safer Neighbourhoods Program for the Avalon Beach to Palm Beach route. The program is focused on improving road safety and access for road users travelling to key local destinations, including Palm Beach and Whale Beach.

The construction program includes flat top speed humps and roundabouts across the planned areas. The broader package has also included traffic calming devices, signage, a raised pedestrian crossing at Whale Beach Road near Barrenjoey Road, new street lighting, pram ramp realignment, lane width improvements and line marking.

The upgrades follow consultation held in October and November 2024, when feedback was sought on proposed road safety changes across Avalon Beach, Whale Beach and Palm Beach. Revised plans were reported on 15 April 2025 after community feedback and an independent road safety audit.

road safety works
Photo Credit: NBC

Traffic Control Planned Across Work Areas

Kelbon Project Services Pty Ltd will carry out the construction works on behalf of the project team.

Works are expected to take place at different times across the planned zones between May and July 2026. Standard construction hours will usually be Monday to Friday, between 7am and 5pm.

Some night works may be required to reduce daytime traffic impacts. Where this occurs, nearby residents will receive advance notice from the contractor.

Traffic control will be present to help pedestrians, school children and road users move safely around work areas. Drivers have been asked to slow down near construction sites and follow warning signs and directions from traffic controllers.

Northern Beaches
Photo Credit: NBC

Construction Noise Expected During Road Safety Works

Construction activity may create noise from demolition, formwork and concrete pouring. The project team has advised that disruption will be reduced where possible while the upgrades are delivered.

The earlier proposal for the Avalon Beach to Palm Beach route included a 30km/h speed limit in some sections east of Barrenjoey Road, along with a 10km/h zone in high pedestrian beachfront parking areas. Those changes were presented alongside infrastructure treatments intended to support safer speeds through local streets.

Safer Neighbourhoods Program
Photo Credit: NBC

Works Expected To Finish In July

The works are expected to be completed in July 2026, weather permitting.

Once finished, the Avalon to Palm Beach upgrades will add new road safety infrastructure across the route, including traffic calming treatments designed for local streets and pedestrian areas.

Read: Anzac Day in Avalon Beach

The construction period will bring temporary traffic and noise impacts, but the project is now moving into its delivery stage after earlier consultation, design revisions and safety review.

Published 28-Apr-2026

Avalon Car Theft Ends with Heartwarming Dog Rescue

Photo Credit: Freerangestock

An Avalon woman’s routine trip to the local shops turned into a community-wide search when her car was stolen with her beloved dog, Amico, still inside. The incident, which unfolded across several Northern Beaches suburbs, left residents both shocked and captivated by the strange sequence of events that followed.

Read: Historic Home with Spy Past Hits Market for $9 Million in Avalon Beach

The unsettling discovery occurred on Sunday, 19 January, when Virginia, an Avalon local, left her Hilux Dual Cab briefly unattended outside Palm Beach Wine Co., with her keys in the ignition and Amico, a Kelpie crossed Border Collie, in the backseat. Within ten minutes, her car was gone, sparking an emotional ordeal that stretched over two tense days.

A Strange Phone Call and a Car Left Behind

Despite immediate police involvement, no trace of the vehicle or Amico was found that day. But the mystery deepened the next morning when Virginia received an unexpected call on her landline—a number known only to those with access to her missing phone, which had been inside the stolen vehicle.

The man on the line claimed to have seen a black dog jumping in and out of a car at Nolan Reserve, Manly, before abruptly hanging up. Although his identity remains unknown, Virginia suspects he may have been the car thief himself. Acting on the tip, she located her Hilux thoughtfully parked under a tree near the reserve. However, Amico was nowhere to be seen.

Amico the rescued dog from Avalon
Photo Credit: What’s On Avalon/Facebooka

A Community Comes Together

The search for Amico took a hopeful turn the next day when Annie Johnson, a local social worker, spotted a distressed black dog darting around Oliver Street in Freshwater. Exhausted and visibly shaken, the dog willingly jumped into Annie’s car. Realising the dog was far from home, she brought him to Harbord Vet and posted a photo in the popular Facebook group, ‘Avalon What’s On.’

By the time Annie arrived at work, her post had exploded with comments from concerned community members. It wasn’t long before the connection was made to Virginia’s earlier plea for help, leading to a heartwarming reunion between Virginia and her beloved Amico. Despite being shaken, Amico was safe, ending the ordeal with relief and gratitude.

Amico the rescued dog from Avalon
Photo Credit: What’s On Avalon/Facebooka

Unanswered Questions Linger

While Amico’s return brought joy, the case remains unsolved. Police examined Virginia’s vehicle for fingerprints and reviewed CCTV footage from Palm Beach Wine Co., but no solid leads have emerged. The identity of the mysterious caller—whether a good Samaritan or the thief with a guilty conscience—remains unknown.

Read: Community Concerns Over Proposed Development in Avalon

Virginia has since reflected on the incident with a simple but stern message to her community: never leave your keys in the car, even in familiar places.

Published 5-February-2025