Changing lifestyles, changing needs
Just as Northbridge Plaza has changed over the years, so too has the local community lifestyle.
Of the 63,805 residents living in the Willoughby local government area, 6,030 of them live in the suburb of Northbridge – 9.4% of the Willoughby local government area population.
Northbridge residents enjoy their suburb because it is quiet, green and safe, and is close to the city, Chatswood and other local services.
* 86% of shoppers visit Northbridge Plaza at least once a week if not more often. Visitors like the variety of shops, the convenience, a specific shop, the smaller size of Northbridge Plaza compared to centres such as Chatswood, and the friendly nature of the centre.
* 83% of people shop at the Northbridge Plaza for a specifi purpose or mission ans this is primarily for food or grocery shopping (78%).
* 80% of people drive to Northbridge Plaza, 14% walk and 3% catch the bus.
* 62% of customers who used the car park on the peak Friday/Saturday entered via Eastern Valley Way while a further 38% used Harden Avenue to enter.
* 57% of local residents believed Willoughby Council owns the car park while the remainder either don’t know or believe it is owned by AMP or Northbridge Plaza.
* Satisfaction with the Council car park was very low, apart from the entry and exit points.
* Pedestrian safety is a particular concern.
* Support is stronger for those aged 18 - 39.
* 21% of local residents support redevelopment of Northbridge Plaza, a further 38% of residents says their support depends on the nature of the redevelopment while 42% reject it.
* Key issues around the acceptability of a redevelopment are the size of the new construction and a desire for the Council car park to also be improved.
To help us assess those changes in the community and to better understand the views of all the Northbridge residents on improving Northbridge Plaza, AMP is committed to continuing to research and poll the community to establish a comprehensive range of community opinions.
1 Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006 Census, StollzNow Research July 2007, KJA Research 2008, Direction Insights Research 2008
