World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Sydney council to close Kirribilli streets during jacaranda season
North Sydney Council plans to close two Kirribilli streets during the jacaranda flowering season.
The closures will cover McDougall Street and part of Hipwood Street for six weekends, during the day.
The council says visitors taking photos near traffic can create a risk of collisions.
Social media has helped draw growing crowds to the trees, which usually reach their peak in November.
The visits also bring business to nearby cafés and shops, while the blooms attract couples seeking wedding and photo locations.
Council staff are monitoring the flowers to decide when the weekend closures should begin.
North Sydney Council plans to close McDougall Street and part of Hipwood Street in Kirribilli during the day on weekends at the peak of jacaranda flowering.
The closures are intended to keep visitors safe as they take photographs near the trees.
The council will monitor the blooms to decide when to begin the closures.
The article says the streets are expected to close for six weekends during the flowering season.
Jacaranda blooms usually reach their peak in November.
- Who
- North Sydney Council plans the closures, with North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker describing the safety concerns.
- What
- McDougall Street and part of Hipwood Street will be closed to cars on weekends during the peak of flowering.
- When
- During the daytime on six weekends at the height of the flowering season, which usually peaks in November.
- Where
- Kirribilli, on Sydney’s lower north shore.
- Why
- To reduce the risk of collisions involving visitors taking photographs near traffic.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said the council was monitoring blooms on McDougall Street to determine when weekend closures should begin.
The council plans to close McDougall Street and part of Hipwood Street during the day on weekends.
Jacaranda flowers usually reach their peak.
- Road closures
- McDougall Street between Clark Road and Willoughby Street, and part of Hipwood Street
- Duration
- Six weekends
- Closure times
- During the day on weekends
- Location
- Kirribilli, Sydney’s lower north shore
- Usual bloom peak
- November
What people are saying
People do get very excited, and they may occasionally attempt to take photographs and do things that would be dangerous when mixed with cars.
Certainly year-on-year, more and more people do attend.
We’ve had people asking us months or even years in advance when the jacarandas will be blooming.