Parking focus for city centre

Peter Farago
GEELONG’S council has parked its focus at a critical issue facing the city centre.
Providing a better service for workers commuting to the city each day is an issue that’s haunted the city centre for years.
As the urban sprawl of council’s parking meters has continued, more motorists are making the daily hike from free parking areas in residential areas to the east and south of Geelong.
Motorists are also walking a fair distance along Western Beach each day.
But the fact these parks in residential areas are free are not the only attraction for motorists.
They’re the closest spaces where motorists can leave their cars all day without attracting unwanted interest from the grey ghosts armed with hand-held cash registers.
Council’s strategy proposes to increase the amount of long-term parking spaces in Myers, Fen-wick and Brougham streets – closer to city workplaces – while introducing restrictions in residential areas allowing locals and visitors to park in front of their homes during the day.
But the report goes further, highlighting concerns about the longevity of off-street, long-term parking around the city centre.
Existing parking lots like the Edgewater at Eastern Beach, the former Bow Truss building in Clare Street and Deakin University’s Smythe Street car park are likely to disappear, tipping more commuters onto the streets.
The council is looking at setting up parking precinct plans under which the City could set rates for parking provision based on land use as a method of managing supply.
But perhaps the City needs to encourage city landowners to develop multi-storey car parks, adding to the supply already offered in the council-owned Civic and Busport facilities.
It’s clear when considering sites like Bow Truss and Edge-water will soon be developed that paid long-term parking close to motorists’ places of work is a desirable option.
Council’s report also touched on developing park-and-ride systems for the city, using Kardinia Park, Belmont Common, Hearne Parade and North Geelong railway station. But the authors say feasibility needs further investigation.
However, the report didn’t touch on an issue that could help ease the squeeze – public transport.
Public transport is a key tool that council can lean on to ease congestion in the city centre.
Providing more promotion of public transport as a cheaper, easy alternative would sway at least some motorists from driving and parking.
Many motorists pay a daily parking fee that’s higher than the cost of a return bus ticket.
While council has addressed a major issue impact on the city centre, thinking outside the square could help provide a sustainable solution for the future.