A decision on endorsing a multi-storey carpark at Central Coast Stadium has been deferred until submissions on Council’s Draft Parking Study and Implementation Plan close on July 6, with Central Coast Commuters Association urging residents to protest the move.
The stadium site was chosen as the most suitable of three suggestions for a carpark made in the recent Central Coast Parking Strategy, with a report to councillors saying it would provide commuter carparking as well as alleviating the current Gosford CBD public carpark shortage.
But Commuters Association Vice President, Eddie Ellis, says the $30M in Federal funding which will pay for a carpark was pledged by the Federal Government prior to the last election specifically to address commuter parking issues and not general issues associated with the CBD.
The stadium site, he says, in unsuitable for commuters, with an extension of the existing railway station carpark a much more effective solution.
Ellis said options for the $5M pledged for commuter carparking at Woy Woy at the same time was being investigated by Transport for NSW and not Central Coast Council.
“We want the same treatment for Gosford, so that the State Government can organize to add extra levels of parking at the current Gosford Station carpark,” Ellis said.
He said using the money for a carpark at the Central Coast Stadium, which could include offices and other extras, was not the true intent of the pledge and wants commuters to make their views known by lodging submissions.
Other objections to the preferred stadium-based option relate to the loss of the large open grass area at the back of the stadium which is heavily used by children and their families on major sport match days.
At the Council meeting on June 9, Councillor Richard Mehrtens said it would be strange to make a decision before the Draft Parking Study comes back after being on 28 days’ public exhibition.
“I think it’s a great project, but I don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” he said.
The matter was discussed in a confidential session before being put to the vote, so little else is known about other councillors’ views.
Residents have until July 6 to comment on the Draft Parking Study at https://www.yourvoiceourcoast.com/parking
Source:
Agenda item 2.5
Central Coast Council meeting, June 9
Media statement, Jun 10
Central Coast Commuters Association Vice President, Eddie Ellis