Only a few days remain for people to have their say on council’s widely-criticised Integrated Transport Study.
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The $240,000 study has been under fire for being “out of touch” with the community, recommending parking meters in the CBD, abandoning plans to duplicate Gobbagombalin Bridge and higher-density housing in Central Wagga.
Hundreds of comments and more than 50 submissions had already been received, which will be used to workshop a draft transport strategy for consideration by council in May.
“Public submissions close this Friday before the independent reports and the public submissions are workshopped by senior staff and councillors,” Councillor Conkey said.
“It will then go back on public exhibition, which will give the community another chance to have input into the final strategy and implementation plan.”
Submissions and community feedback to date have covered:
- Facilitating the growth of the city’s northern suburbs
- Lobbying the NSW Government for the duplication of the Gobbagombalin Bridge
- Provision of additional car parking spaces in the CBD
- The need for a traffic and parking plan for the hospital precinct
- Additional and improved cycle ways within the CBD and extending out to the university, Forest Hill and Kapooka
- Improved pedestrian links
- A pressing need for a truck interchange and service centre
- A public transport interchange in the middle of the CBD
Wagga Ratepayers Community leader Wes Fang said it was vitally important for people to have their say on these issues, “otherwise we’re leaving the future of the transport strategy in the hands of inner-city consultants who don’t appreciate the way of life we enjoy in our regional community”.
“But the communication of how the strategy process is being conducted has been rather poor from council and has added to the confusion,” Mr Fang said.
“I attended one of the workshops and I left with a much better understanding, this is one step in a multi-step process and submissions from the public will be as valuable as the controversial peer-review report, which is why it is important for the public to make a submission.”
Cr Conkey said there were many contentious issues raised by the community and one of those issues had been public parking.
“There are more than 7500 on and off road public car parking spaces in the CBD,” Cr Conkey said.
“The data reveals the most congested time for parking is between noon and 1pm weekdays, yet during this time 49 per cent of these car parking spaces are vacant.”
The mayor said work on the Integrated Transport Strategy began 18 months ago and he thanked everyone who had already been involved.
“Of the $240,000 cost to date, $200,000 has been spent on modelling of traffic flows and road capacity, growth rates, parking studies and extensive community engagement,” he said.
“All feedback received will be carefully considered.”
Stephen Mudd
Stephen Mudd is a journalist for Fairfax Media west of the great divide. He loves music, dogs and travel.
Stephen Mudd is a journalist for Fairfax Media west of the great divide. He loves music, dogs and travel.
