CITY of Bayswater has adopted a carparking management plan for the congested Morley Activity Centre to provide more “flexibility” for motorists.
Councillors voted 6-5 to adopt the $8.2 million plan, which included Councillor Barry McKenna’s amendment to investigate the construction of multi-decked carparking with 200 car bays in the long term (eight to 10 years), at the February 6 committee meeting.
The plan proposed actions including signage directing motorists to public parking locations to reduce traffic congestion in the short-to-medium term (one to five years).
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READ NOWTime restrictions will be reviewed and provided in the central core, outer core, mixed business, civic and education precincts in the medium-to-long term (five to 10 years).
Ongoing provision and enforcement of paid parking in privately owned public carparks will be actioned as part of the existing Ranger Services resources.
According to the plan, the total cost was $8,322,950, with $8.2 million proposed for possible decked parking structures in the long term.
The City received four public submissions that raised concerns about traffic congestion, poor enforcement of time restricted parking and the future demand of carparking and commuter parking for bus passengers not being addressed.
Planning and development services director Des Abel said the timeframes were subject to changing circumstances, the City’s priorities, budget considerations and reviews of the Long Term Financial Plan.
Cr Giorgia Johnson said it was difficult to address parking issues in Morley when the plan covered 10 per cent of parking areas owned by the City.
Cr McKenna said while he accepted the plan, he did not know how committed the future council would be to spend $4.1 million in each of the 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years on decked parking.
Cr Sally Palmer said the plan had “good flexibility” and supported high-rise parking because it would save space.
Cr Stephanie Gray said a senior ladies’ group based at the Les Hasman Centre recently received $80 parking fines despite having a “verbal agreement” with the City to park there for four hours.
“We might need to look at something a bit different for groups like that,” she said.
Strategic planning and place manager Matt Turner said the City would get more information about the fines and work with the community services director to look at the group’s situation.
A Galleria Shopping Centre spokeswoman said the centre had discussions with the council about commuter parking at Galleria as part of its commitment to ensure customers had access to convenient parking.
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