Urgent action required to reduce parking nightmare

I READ the reports in the Gold Coast Bulletin about employee parking in Helensvale. I also recall reports in July last year about the significant emerging crisis in Broadbeach streets, principally arising from increased construction traffic.

Both of these reports highlight one salient fact: employees need parking. The situation at Helensvale seems a little unusual, but it’s really a good news story if there are more jobs that have been previously anticipated as more people find work.

The situation at Broadbeach will continue to intensify with increased mega-tower development approvals, as it is in Surfers Paradise, and of course, construction workers can’t generally use public transport, as they are often carry tools and materials.

It’s also true that for many workers using public transport just isn’t an option for various reasons including location of their homes and the need to drop off children at school or childcare before and after work.

Of course, Council has to respond in some way to strike a balance between supporting workers in their jobs and the local economy on the one hand and recognising the adverse impacts on local residents on the other. Restricting parking hours might seem like a solution, and is may be necessary, but does it really solve the problem? It will undoubtedly free up the streets somewhat, but where do the workers park?

One way to cut down parking demand, particularly in areas like Surfers and Broadbeach, is to stop approving so many mega-developments, but that won’t happen, as the least while the current Mayor is in charge and under the current planning scheme.

So why sell the Bruce Bishop car park? Where will the 1,260 cars that use it each day park once it is closed for redevelopment? Local residential streets are already full during working hours.

Construction of the new megatowers in Surfers such as Aquis Pacific Point, Markwell Residences, River Terraces and the 102 storey Orion, will bring hundreds at extra workers cars per day into the precinct. The Mayor says these projects must be approved to provide jobs, but where will the workers park?

We need real solutions, not just band-aid fixes. Selling public parking assets is madness. Workers need convenient and affordable parking.

DEBORAH KELLY, COMMITTEE CO-ORDINATOR SAVE SURFERS PARADISE INC.