Solutions sought to CBD parking

It is one of the hottest topics in Warragul, but Baw Baw Shire Council is not prepared to make decisions without further community consultation.

The Warragul Parking Study will involve an extensive community engagement process with the aim to improve Warragul’s car parking.

Officers said the requirement for additional parking was not being questioned, but rather how parking can be improved in ways that are practical, financially viable and in line with community preferences.

Historically, car parking availability in the CBD has been considered a major issue by traders, people working in the area and the broader community.

A study undertaken in 2015 identified a number of short, medium- and long-term solutions, including a multideck carpark.

Consultant DARMS Property assessed the feasibility of a multideck car park.

The recommended 409 space multideck option was estimated to cost about $25 million and include a retail and commercial space to offset the cost.

Since then, a new car park at the railway station provided almost 200 all day and long-term car spaces.

Another study in 2018 reinforced the need for additional parking.

In 2018, the average weekday occupancy rate of the 2669 spaces in Warragul was 70 per cent, and up to 90 per cent in peak times.

The community engagement will consider new issues as well as nine key recommendations and costs identified in the 2015 and 2018 studies include:

Construction of a multideck carpark - $25 million.

Implementation of paid parking - $100,000.

Revision of existing car parking restrictions including removal of permit parking - $10,000.

Improvement of walking and cycling networks along Gladstone and Mason Sts $50,000.

Improved

Expanding the current parking overlay - $50,000.

Implementation of a “cash in lieu” scheme for developments in the CBD - $30,000.

Implementation of a community bus service $120,000 annually. signage $15,000.

Implementation of parking enforcement - $100,000.

Cr Joe Gauci said while the two previous studies achieved similar results, council wanted to go to the public and ask “how do we do this.”

“We want to know where their priority spend needs to be and endorse a strategy. We have to get ideas on how we make these things happen,” he said.

Cr Mikaela Power said people were interested in parking in Warragul.

“We want people to spend money in our towns and we want to know their ideas for how to find parking better,” she said.

Cr Keith Cook said there had been a lot of changes since the past studies including redevelopment of the Hastings site, Kmart and Bunnings, the underpass, closure of the saleyards and the CBD upgrade.

Council officers will work with a panel to develop a set of recommendations that emerge from the consultation including a potential funding model.

It is expected a report and recommendations will be presented to council for a decision by September.