Shop-top living push: Waiver plan for parking

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
COUNCIL wants to encourage shop-top living in central Geelong with a waiver on a requirement for developers to provide car parks.
But the waiver could delay development of a multi-storey car park in the city, according to a council report.
Councillors voted this week to ask Planning Minister Mathew Guy to defer the council’s precinct parking plan for at least 12 months, removing a potential funding source for a multi-storey park.
The report said deferring the parking plan was necessary “to provide flexibility on parking” for shop-top developments.
Under the parking plan developers must pay $18,500 for each space they are unable to provide.
Fruit Property Geelong’s Peter Julian warned city parking would remain “a killer” during business hours without a new multi-storey car park.
“An extra multi-storey park would help no end because we’re a country of car users,” Mr Julian said.
“Waiving car park requirements for shop-top living is all well and good but it doesn’t solve the problem. People still don’t have anywhere to park their car, especially during business hours.
“It’s nice but it’s simply waiving a rule as opposed to providing a solution.”
The council report said providing on-street parking permits for central Geelong residents would be difficult during business hours.
Mr Julian suggested council could allow development of apartments on top of a multi-level car park to help fund its construction.
“All of a sudden you’ve got a great set of apartments with awesome views and you’ve got somewhere central to park,” he said.
“Landlords could lease spots allocated to CBD residences and residents could walk from their apartments to the car park. It needs a big bold plan instead of little touch ups here and there.”
Council’s planning portfolio holder Cr Rod Macdonald said the city area had no shortage of parking under existing demand.
“There are a number of options for longer-term parking and there are still all-day parks available,” he said.
“All we’re doing is providing an option for those who don’t need a car park. It will be interesting to see how the market responds.
“We’ll have to reassess the policy in the future but we wanted to get it started and give developers and potential residents an attractive proposition.
“Those who want a car space will choose to live somewhere else.”