Six-month Cleveland parking trial begins

A six-month trial of 26 one-hour parking spaces in Cleveland CBD has begun to help identify the benefits of providing more short-term parking spaces.

Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell said that balancing parking time limits was one way of ensuring town centres, such as Cleveland remain accessible to all users.

“We need to ensure our centres remain vibrant parts of the Redlands Coast community,” Cr Mitchell said.

“Currently, on-street parking in the Cleveland CBD is dominated by three-hour and longer parking options.

“This reflects past responses to parking, but the needs of the Cleveland town centre, visitors and businesses have changed over time.

“An over-emphasis on long-term parking can limit business turnover and frustrate those in the community who are unable to conduct their business because they cannot easily access available parking.

“To help strike a balance, Council has agreed to reduce the three-hour limits to one hour for 26 parking spaces in Middle Street and Bloomfield Street, Cleveland.”

The new one-hour parking spaces are in the following locations: • 17 parking spaces on Bloomfield Street running from approximately outside Westpac Bank (on the corner of Bloomfield and Middle streets) to Stephen Dibb Jewellers • 6 parking spaces on Middle Street, running from approximately Gisler’s Pie Café and Subway to Westpac Bank (on the corner of Bloomfield and Middle streets) • 3 spaces on Bloomfield Street approximately outside Bloomfield Street News.

Cr Mitchell said the parking spaces chosen were those that regularly experienced high demand for parking with retail and pedestrian activity nearby.

“Some businesses cater to quick turnover customers, while others may need more extended parking times for their customers,” Cr Mitchell said.

“Having a mix of timed parking spaces is designed to cater for these differences.”

Cr Mitchell said parking was not the only solution.

“Good public transport access and walking and cycling-friendly spaces are also vital ingredients,” Cr Mitchell said.

“I expect the newly announced Redlands Coast Active Travel Reference group I will be chairing will also make an essential contribution to better urban transport, accessibility and active travel outcomes across the city.

“In the meantime, I hope that the trial of reduced on-street parking times limits may also help to improve parking access and turnover of available spaces.

“The data collected from the trial will be important for a future report to Council, and I encourage as many people as possible to contribute to the Yoursay Redlands Coast project page survey.”

Visit Council’s Your Say site at yoursay.redland.qld.gov.au