Future car parking plans put to council

Goulburn has sufficient car parking spaces to last the next 20 years, but the council should investigate opportunities for new pedestrian routes to Auburn St and "activate existing laneways" to make off-street parking more attractive.

All this, and more, was adopted as recommendations to last Tuesday's meeting by the CBD Future Car Parking working party.

The group was tasked with reviewing the parking needs in the CBD, with members spanning community representatives, council staff, the chamber of commerce and councillors.

"The working party investigated based on the assumption that the anticipated growth of Goulburn over the next 20 years would take the overall population of the local government area to 40,000 people," Goulburn Mulwaree Director of Growth Strategy and Culture Louise Wakefield said.

This was consistent with Council's strategic work in land use planning, wastewater management and economic development and growth.

The group did not see an immediate need to construct a multi-storey car park.

Instead, they recommended council "proactively" discuss partnership opportunities for the provision of additional multi storey parking with private property owners, such as clubs and shopping centres.

Promotion of off-street parking in places like Cartwright Place and Ellesmere St was also a priority, as limited pedestrian pathways were making off-street parking less desirable.

"The working party found there was a greater issue around accessibility of existing parking areas within the CBD than a lack of spaces available," Ms Wakefield said.

“This situation has resulted in the accepted driver behaviour of ‘circling the block’ until a parking space becomes available in Auburn Street, leading to the perceived lack of parking spaces.”

“Council should identify short, medium and long term opportunities to improve... Cartwright Place and Ellesmere Street. Further landscaping and shading of these areas should be considered as well as opportunities for working with adjacent property owners.”

The working party also indicated Council enter into negotiations with the Roads and Maritime Service to have alternative routes to Auburn St. A traffic master plan for the City is underway.

“Other matters that were discussed included establishing appropriate parking controls and times, and the provision for all-day parking, long vehicles, accessible parking and delivery vehicles within the CBD,” Ms Wakefield said.

“The working party has also compared paid and free public parking and agreed that at this stage paid parking was not necessary in Goulburn.”

Working party member Barry McDonald said he was supportive of all aspects of the report.

“Generally, I am in agreement with it overall - certainly the parts about not having paid car parking,” he said.

“Overall, Goulburn doesn’t have any major parking problem. I support the idea of having laneways to access the main street from the streets behind Auburn St. There isn’t one between Montague and Verner Streets at the moment... and I’m certainly supportive of council negotiating with the shopping centres and major clubs for expansion of their car parks.” 

A key recommendation was that any CBD works should result in no loss to the number of parking spaces available.

“... even with an increased population of 40,000, Goulburn has a sufficient supply of car parking spaces within the CBD in comparison to other regional centres,” Ms Wakefield said.

“... the current number of parking spaces within the CBD contributes to the ‘country town’ feel of Goulburn and any significant loss of parking spaces would adversely impact on our city’s character.”

Further recommendations included: a revision of parking controls and times be undertaken, including provision of all-day parking, long vehicles, accessible parking and delivery vehicles; a signage strategy to provide a better way for traffic to find ways to the CBD; a review of the development controls around parking, traffic and access within the CBD; and a short, medium and long-term landscaping strategy to improve the appeal of Auburn St to encourage pedestrian activity and clearly communicate the entrances to the CBD.