Farmers in a spin over car quarrel

It comes after Wagga councillors publicised the transport blueprint on Monday night amid expectations the feedback would be less than complimentary. 

Wagga is the largest retail and commercial centre in the Riverina serving a catchment of over 185,000, but the report has focused on enticing the city’s 65,000 residents to walk and cycle more while dismissing car traffic. 

Rural Ratepayers’ Association president Barbara Johnston has slammed suggestions Wagga has too much parking. 

“Rural ratepayers come into the city to purchase groceries and clothes and go to the bank, which requires parking,” she said.

“Rural folk have to drive into town, what do they want us to do – park on the fringes of the city and walk in?”

In fact the report recommends just that, claiming “the key element to the success of activity centres is when people park on the fringe of the centre and walk around to get to their destinations”.

Wagga Business Chamber president Andrew Bell was open to the possibility Wagga had too much parking, but was adamant it was inefficient and ineffective. 

“If you take into account beach parking – and there’s a lot of parking down there – there may be enough, but it isn’t efficient,” Mr Bell said.

“Wagga consumers have come to expect to park close to their destination, which is part of the reason you come to a country town in the first place. 

“It’s not good for business for customers to have to park that far away.”

Retail is Wagga’s second largest employer – behind health care and social assistance – and Mr Bell said the city couldn’t afford to lose the rural shopper by pursuing a car-free future.

“If you make it difficult for farmers to access businesses in Wagga, they'll go to Canberra or Albury, which our local economy can’t afford,” Mr Bell said.

The local business authority also slammed suggestions council stymie residential and commercial development north of the Murrumbidgee River, saying it “doesn’t pass the pub test”. 

Council has called on Wagga residents to read the report in full and make their thoughts known online at wagga.nsw.gov.au/ourtransport; via email to council@wagga.nsw.gov.au or via post to PO Box 20, Wagga Wagga NSW 2650.