Flax Soetjandra notices the transformation of Dee Why every time she walks to the beach with her dog Harry.

Pittwater Road is choked with traffic. There are long queues to board double-decker B-line buses. The footpaths have been turned into obstacle courses. The suburb is noisy with building works.

Commuters face long queues and building works to catch buses in Dee Why Credit:James Brickwood

“Transport is a massive issue,” she said. “There are a lot of buses with the new B1 line, but the queue to get one is super-lengthy and currently a bit haphazard as big apartment developments are being built on Pittwater Road where the buses stop.”

Ms Soetjandra said the suburb had always been vibrant and diverse.