Almost six years ago, Campbelltown councillor Paul Lake, a former mayor, stood up to read out a notice of motion.
Lake, concerned that council were not proactive enough on a rapidly shrinking parking availability around the business areas of Campbelltown – and with predicted massive population growth on the way – wanted to see some action as soon as possible.
That meeting was held on October 13, 2020, and he proposed that a full feasibility report be presented to Council outlining the financial and nonfinancial implications of introducing paid parking into the Campbelltown Local Government Area.
The agenda for next week’s council meeting, on Tuesday, April 14, contains a response to Lake’s request for a feasibility study.
And while some people may say better late than never, what is being proposed would make the writers of Yes, Minister and Utopia envious.
Councillors will ultimately decide what happens to Paul Lake’s feasibility study, but the council officers have recommended a “technical’’ parking study, and afterwards, the possibility of another report.
These are their two recommendations: “A technical Parking Study is being explored for the Campbelltown City Centre to support ongoing operational, strategic planning and revitalisation initiatives, and two, the outcomes of the Parking Study will determine whether a further report to Council is required.’’
To be fair, the officers have tabled a report in response to that notice of motion all those years ago.
“Parking is an important component of a thriving City Centre and many in our community, particularly those without convenient public transport alternatives, rely on being able to drive to their destination,’’ it states.
“Council currently provides over 4,000 free parking spaces across the inner core of Campbelltown City Centre, in addition to extensive parking at Macarthur and Leumeah.
“Existing parking arrangements seek to balance the needs of all users, from short-term visitors to all-day workers and commuters, while providing loading zones for businesses and making sure those with limited mobility can park closest to their destination.
“Recent data shows that while some of our car parks are in high demand, others have spare capacity.
“This variation means spaces are often available within a short walk, even if not directly out the front of destinations.
“Rather than undertaking a narrow feasibility assessment of paid parking, a comprehensive Parking Study will be prepared.
“The study will provide the strategic evidence base to inform future decisions on parking management and access improvements.
“The study will analyse current parking supply, utilisation, and user patterns across the broader City Centre, including the origin and destination of users. It will assess the effectiveness of existing timed parking restrictions, evaluate future parking needs in line with anticipated development and population growth, and test options for different parking interventions, including staged implementation over time.’’