Galleria Shopping Centre in Morley.
Camera IconGalleria Shopping Centre in Morley. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Morley: Bayswater Council pushes for more commuter parking during redevelopment of Galleria Shopping Centre

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

BAYSWATER Council has called for more commuter parking near Morley Bus Station before and during redevelopment works at Galleria Shopping Centre.

In March, centre co-owners Perron Group and Vicinity Centres received approval from the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) for an amended redevelopment proposal worth $350 million.

The redevelopment includes a Russell Street Plaza with food and beverage shops, parking areas , a five-storey car park and a leisure and entertainment zone.

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The co-owners submitted another amended development application to the JDAP in June but a meeting date was yet to be determined.

At last night’s committee meeting, councillors debated verbal advice from town planners Rowe Group on behalf of Vicinity and requested the JDAP to impose an advice note in the amended application to consider providing commuter parking.

Councillors unanimously supported Councillor Filomena Piffaretti’s amendment for the City to write to Vicinity to ask them to provide commuter parking at the centre in the interim prior to redevelopment works.

The City will request Vicinity revisit commuter parking options as the first stage of the redevelopment was nearing completion.

The City will also write to the State Government to request commuter parking facilities be provided at the proposed Morley train station or Morley Bus Station in the event the train station is not built in the Morley Activity Centre.

According to a City of Bayswater officer’s report, while no written response had been provided, Rowe Group verbally advised there was no capacity to provide commuter parking at the station, which did not have park and ride facilities.

“Vicinity was currently looking for alternative staff parking,” the report stated.

“However, Vicinity Group was open to reconsidering the matter close to the end of the construction and depending on the parking management regime of the shopping centre.”

Cr Piffaretti said while there might not be capacity to provide commuter parking during the redevelopment works, she would like to see some parking provided to bus passengers.

Cr Lorna Clarke said there were parts of the district which were not connected to trains or buses already hence why more parking was needed at transport hubs like Morley.

Council adopted an action to investigate the development of commuter parking decks in the Morley Activity Centre as part of the adopted Car Parking Management Plan but it would not be implemented for at least eight to 10 years.

UPDATE: Focus on customers not commuters – Vicinity Centres Vicinity WA regional general manager Brad Osborne said they have not provided commuter parking options because their commitment was to ensure customers, retailers and teams have access to convenient and secure parking. “We understand that parking availability can be an issue for commuters, but the Galleria car park is for the specific use of our centre customers and retailers,” he said. “We will continue to work with the local community and all levels of government to ensure our centre responds to the longer term needs of the greater Morley area.” A Metronet spokeswoman said parking was a key consideration in planning any future station, as well as feeder bus services, cycling and walking. “Investigation into the traffic needs of Morley and its interaction with destinations such as the Galleria, the bus station and future train station will be undertaken as part of the planning process,” she said. “However at this stage it is too early to confirm the level of passenger parking to be provided.”