Parking strategy shows

A review of Gunnedah central business district (CBD) parking has taken a comprehensive look at parking space numbers and availability.

Gunnedah Shire Council engaged consultants Bitzios Consulting to prepare an updated CBD Parking Strategy to replace the one completed in 2018. The strategy formed the basis of a new Gunnedah CBD Parking Contributions Plan.

Gunnedah Shire Council Director Infrastructure Services Jeremy Bartlett said Council wanted to look at what changes there had been in parking in the CBD since 2018, and to understand the balance between supply and demand.

“This strategy looks at the number of car parks within the CBD, where they are and how they are being used,” Mr Bartlett said.

“Before we can effectively implement a contributions plan towards new car parks as the CBD develops and evolves, we need to understand how it is working for our CBD now.

“What the strategy found was that parking occupation has actually decreased marginally since 2018, with a more even spread of parking demand in our CBD. Short-term parking spaces have increased by 5%, and there are an additional four person with disability car parks.

“Our population is predicted to grow, and this strategy makes a number of recommendations to help manage our parking network into the future. This strategy has also informed the proposed Gunnedah CBD Parking Contributions Plan to allow a fair and practical method to levy development that increases demand on Council provided car parking.”

Fast facts from the Gunnedah CBD Parking Review:

• There are 2,226 parking spaces in the Gunnedah CBD study area, with 409 of those spaces in private car parks including supermarkets • 72% (1,309 spaces) of the public parking spaces have no time restrictions • 26% (470 spaces) have time restrictions, with the majority being two-hour parking (462 spaces) • There are 30 accessible parking spaces for people with a disability in the public parking areas • The peak hour for parking is 10-11am. During this peak hour, 48% (597 of the 1255 spaces) in the core CBD precinct are occupied • The peak hour for the fringe study area was 11am-12pm, with 39% (383 of 970 spaces) occupied • Off-street parking in the core CBD precinct usually has spare capacity with the exception of the Gunnedah Shire Council building car park in Elgin Street and Aldi Car Park • A total of 81 of 463 vehicles overstayed in timed parking spaces (17%). The highest number of over stayers were in Marquis Street (23%), followed by Chandos Street (24-25%). To take a look at the full strategy and the Council resolution and find out how you can provide feedback, visit www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au

The exhibition period closes at 5pm on 15 November, 2023.