Residents have until August 16 to provide comment on the Central Coast Parking Study and Implementation Plan, now on public exhibition via Council’s website.
The plan has been guided by previous community consultation and includes short, and medium-to-long term strategies to deliver additional parking where required.
It also looks at improved public and other transport options and has assessed the commuter parking needs for Gosford, Woy Woy, Wyong, Warnervale, Ourimbah, Tuggerah and Lisarow.
The plan attracted quite a bit of community comment when it was considered by Council in June prior to going on public exhibition, with options for Gosford especially contentious.
It suggests three options for a new parking station close to the CBD – one at Central Coast Stadium, one at Gosford racecourse and at a site owned by Council in Albany St.
Central Coast Commuters Association vice president, Eddie Ellis, was critical of the three proposals, saying they were more concerned with replacing parking spots which will be lost when the former Kibbleplex site is redeveloped than with using $30M pledged by the Federal Government for the purpose it was promised – alleviating commuter parking problems.
Ellis said the plan ignores the most obvious solution, which is to add more levels to the existing commuter carpark adjacent to Gosford railway station.
Others were critical of a loss of green space adjacent to Central Coast Stadium which would be lost to the community if the first option were adopted.
That option was believed to be the one most favoured by Council, but the matter was discussed most recently in a confidential session on June 9, with councillors’ views not made public and a final decision deferred until the plan comes back to Council following the public exhibition period.
The study says parking demands are generally very high in the Gosford CBD, with more than 5,000 vehicles seeking a park during peak periods as shoppers, commuters and those accessing Gosford Hospital vie for a spot.
There are currently 1,119 free parking spaces at the railway station and 706 paid parking spaces at the Gosford City Car Park, which is rarely full as motorists search for a free spot.
With the 535 free car parking spaces at the Kibbleplex Shopping Centre to be lost when the redevelopment of the site by the Lederer Group is finally approved, the need for more parking in the CBD is urgent.
Mayor Lisa Matthews is urging the public to have their say.
“Council understands that car parking is a significant issue of concern to the community and is actively working to ensure a plan is put in place to meet the immediate and future needs of the Central Coast and ensure the best outcome for Council’s future investment,” she said.
“We will continue to explore all options and work closely with all levels of government into the future to address car parking issues for our residents.”
The Central Coast Parking Strategy Implementation Plan is currently on public exhibition online at yourvoiceourcoast.com.
Terry Collins