Opponents of a bid to reduce the car parking rate for two bedroom dwellings from 1.2 spaces to one space per dwelling in the town centre of Edmondson Park have welcome its rejection by the Independent Planning Commission on Friday.
Community campaigner Michael Andjelkovic said it was a win for people power, while two local members of parliament said common sense had prevailed.
In its statement of reasons for the decision, the Commission said it had concluded the plan was not in the public interest, finding that:
• there is a clear and serious lack of public car parking in the town centre of Edmondson Park.
• a reduction in car parking rates for dwellings in the town centre may result in overflow parking onto the surrounding streets, which would be likely to further exacerbate the parking problem.
More than 25 public submissions objecting to the application had been received by the Commission.
Michael Andjelkovic, pictured, said this “outcome could not have been achieved without the submissions from the community’’.
“A big thank you to everyone who made the effort to make a submission – without the minimum 25 lodgements we could not have achieved this outcome,’’ he said.
State Member for Macquarie Fields Anoulack Chanthivong said he was delighted the IPC had taken on board comments made in his submission, particularly that the application would exacerbate the area’s parking crisis and it would be ludicrous to change car parking rates in response to a developer’s anecdotal evidence about demand.
“A decision to reduce car parking rates would have further corroded public trust in the planning system and greatly impacted residents’ quality of life in and around the town centre.
“I am glad common sense has prevailed,” he said.
Werriwa MP Anne Stanley said she applauded the decision.
“I thank the panel for their consideration, and especially note that the Commission recognises the issues surrounding parking at Edmondson Park,” she said.
“As the Commission rightly points out, there is a clear and serious lack of public car parking in the Town Centre.
“The situation is only getting worse and it is time for the NSW Government to act on its election promise. It is now eleven months since the Premier and Member for Holsworthy pledged $40 million dollars to build a multistorey commuter car park.”
Sanity says a one bedroom abode could have two cars with a three beder having up to five cars. This is the real world and must be addressed now or there will be no future for liverpool except traffic jammed unliveable slums.