Page 2215 - Week 06 - Friday, 27 June 2008
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As the city moves through an important development stage, the government is implementing measures to assist the provision of additional parking. Due to developments in the north-west sector of the city, including sites in the ANU exchange area south of Barry Drive and west of Marcus Clarke Street, we will see a significant increase in demand for long-stay parking in or near that sector of the city. The government has, therefore, identified locations for the construction of additional surface car parking spaces to service rapidly growing areas of the city.
Some $1 million dollars has been allocated for the construction of a temporary service car park at Watson Street in Turner. The project will involve construction of an access point, probably from Masson Street; construction of surface parking areas; installation of treated pine barriers to define the car park edges and to prevent vehicles accessing other open space areas adjacent to the site; lighting, footpaths and landscaping. Existing mature trees on the site will be retained. The yield is expected to be between 200 and 250 parking spaces.
While one of the goals of the sustainable transport plan is to shift the balance of travel from the private car towards greater use of public transport, cycling and walking, in the intervening period, it is necessary to provide for additional parking to support recent large increases and near-term future increases in employment in City West. The proposed site is zoned as road reserve in the National Capital Plan. The area is currently seen as open space with a mown grass surface. Environmental factors are unlikely to be a significant constraint, with the only minor impacts being on trees located on the site.
The feasibility study will investigate the suitability of areas from a technical perspective in the Commonwealth Avenue western loops or ramps for surface car parking, including existing services, geotechnical and hydraulic issues. The yield is expected to be around 400 paid parking spaces for the combined loop areas.
The $530,000 funding provided for a new park-and-ride facility at Mawson will also contribute to addressing parking demand in two ways: firstly, it will reduce pressure on parking in the city by providing some commuters with the alternative of parking at Mawson and continuing their journey to work via bus; secondly, it will enable the conversion of 60 of the current park-and-ride spaces within the Woden town centre to paid parking spaces, alleviating some of the parking pressure being experienced at Woden. The project will deliver a new surface parking area with a capacity of 70 cars, bike storage for 15 bikes and promotion of these facilities.
We have allocated $2 million to improve the amenity of Canberra suburbs and shopping centres, which will increase the frequency of cleaning and sweeping of shopping centres, playgrounds, toilets, bus shelters, underpasses and car parks. It will also allow for an increase in the frequency of mowing and edging of arterial roads, maintenance of shrub beds and weed control. Additional funding of $5 million over four years will provide for maintenance of new and expanding infrastructure due to the growth of the city and road infrastructure assets and urban open space assets.
The government manages a significant asset base, including a diverse range of living and built assets. The asset inventory includes: 42 hectares of sports grounds;
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