The council will crack down on parking time limits around the hospital following numerous complaints about building contractors taking up valuable spaces.
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Councillors at their meeting on Tuesday reduced parking times for four blocks around the facility from four to two hours. They also decided to employ a contract compliance officer for 12 months to enforce the restrictions.
General manager Warwick Bennett said Health Infrastructure (HI), which was managing the new hospital build, had advised contractors to park vehicles in a purpose-built car park on the corner of Mount and Fitzroy Street.
"But those requests have fallen on deaf ears," he said.
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Mr Bennett told The Post that the council had fielded numerous complaints from residents about the pressures.
"There have been some very angry people," he said.
"There have been some verbal altercations up there, which have not been positive. Other feedback has been quite respectful from people simply asking what can be done about it."
He said it was frustrating that HI had promised that tendering documents would require contractors to park at the Mount Street facility,but this had not been done.
Contractors were instead parking in four-hour zones on Goldsmith, Clifford and Faithfull Streets from 6am weekdays. They returned after four hours to simply swap vehicle positions with other contractors in the same streets.
Mayor Bob Kirk said this meant there was no turnover of spaces, but the Mount Street car park largely went "unused."
Nevertheless, they had a legal right to do so under the existing rules.
Deputy Mayor Peter Walker suggested that Goulburn High School students and staff, and hospital staff use the Mount Street car park instead. This would free up some streets for hospital contractors. But Mr Bennett said only lead builder, Hansen Yuncken was legally insured to use that facility.
Cr Andrew Banfield argued the Mount Street car park's location was "impractical" for those working on the hospital, especially those with equipment.
But Cr Kirk argued enforcement of new time zones would be more effective.
The changes are that four-hour time limits will be reduced to two hours in the following streets:
- Goldsmith Street between Faithfull Street and Cowper Street.
- Goldsmith Street between Albert Street and Deccan Street (both sides).
Two-hour parking restrictions will also be imposed on:
- Clifford Street between Faithfull Street and Cowper Street (both sides).
- Faithfull Street between Clifford Street and Montague Street (both sides).
The limits will apply from 6am to 6pm weekdays during the hospital's construction.
Cr Kirk said the hospital project manager had advised him that contractors were told during 'toolbox talks' that they had to park at Mount Street.
Cr Margaret O'Neill told the meeting that parking was also spilling down Goldsmith Street to Bourke Street.
"It has become a major problem," she said.
Cr O'Neill feared the parking pressures around the hospital would result in an accident and the council would be blamed.
Tuesday's decision also means that fresh parking exemption permits will be issued to residents and one visitor for each household.
Staff from the hospital staff, Good Start Early Child Care Centre and and students at Goulburn High School will receive new exemptions for all restricted parking, except the two-hour parking on Prell Street and Goldsmith Street between Faithfull Street and Deccan Street.
The council will require Health Infrastructure to fund the permits as well as new signage.
Mr Bennett said a contract compliance officer would be employed for a year to police the restrictions.
"Because of the community's frustration and complaints receive, this role is seen as important but the council needs to be aware that that this could have cost implications as the position may not be self-funded by infringement fines," he warned in his report.
Cr Leah Ferrara wasn't impressed.
"I find it very upsetting that we now have to put restrictions on (people) because contractors from out of town can't follow the rules," she said.
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Louise Thrower
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
If you have a story to tell, drop me a line at louise.thrower@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0418 229 678.
