Parking CBD
CAR parking limits will be extended, grace periods too and Saturday parking free under trial changes agreed to by City Hall last night.
The changes, from 1 January to 31 March, will include:
— All current Central Geelong 1 hour parking limits increased to 2 hours, except for those areas adjacent to the emergency sections of the Geelong Hospital.
— An extended grace period from 10 to 15 minutes free on top of the purchased ticket or signed time allowance.
–Free Saturday parking.
“Parking was top of the agenda for many people during my campaign and has continued to be since my appointment,” said Mayor Darryn Lyons.
“I am pleased that together with Cr Heagney, and the whole of the council team, we have been able to deliver changes rapidly.”
“This has long been a hot topic in the community, and we are working hard to find a solution that caters best for everyone.
“The proposed changes have been chosen in response to feedback from the community.
“This is what the people have asked for, so this is what we are willing to try.”
Cr Heagney said that after listening to the concerns of traders and residents about parking, the council was initiating trials it believed would have a positive impact for Central Geelong.
“This is a three-month trial period, and we are looking forward to seeing the impact this will have on the movement of traffic and visitation rates in Central Geelong,” she said.
“The trial changes will be accompanied by a feedback process that will allow customers and businesses an opportunity to provide comments on the impact of the changes after two months.”
A report will be brought back to council detailing the outcomes of the trial.
The proposed car parking changes have been pulled from the Central Geelong Task Force Action Plan, due to be finalised in January 2014.
“The issue of car parking in Central Geelong is obviously one of great interest to the community so we felt it necessary to begin trialling the proposed changes immediately, rather than wait for the full Central Geelong Task Force Action Plan to be complete,” said Cr Heagney.
“It is an exciting time for the CBD, with many new initiatives planned and changes on the way,” she said.
