COUNCIL has vowed to investigate traffic solutions for the city with a $160,000 study that considers key road, bike, pedestrian and car parking projects.
Councillors resolved this week to bring forward funding as provided in the long-term financial plan to start an Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS) to detail a review of car parking.
A council spokesman said developers’ contributions identified the need for future strategic work to be undertaken to identify transport projects that may need to be funded and constructed to service the growing communities of Wagga.
“A transport strategy of this nature should only need to be prepared once in every 20 years or so,” he said.
“The strategy should guide investment in the whole transport network in Wagga to improve the place as a city to live, work and invest.”
The issue of parking has plagued the city for years, with last year’s Wagga Business Chamber survey of more than 100 businesses overwhelmingly indicating a lack of parking, particularly on Fitzmaurice Street.
From the survey, Fitzmaurice Street business owners and staff called for a greater mix of one and two-hour parking spaces, along with a multi-level car park behind the ABC Riverina studio.
Council will now revisit any past car parking proposals for Wagga to cover the future supply and demand for car parking in the CBD.
“The option of centralised multi-deck car parking will be part of the scope of the strategy,” the spokesman said.
“Any previous strategies will be reviewed in the context of taking this more integrated whole of transport mode approach, and in light of current and proposed development in the city.”
The spokesman shied away from whether council will consider purchasing the former Franklins car park on Peter Street.
“The existing car park forms part of the consent granted for the operation of the former Franklins supermarket and as such, the building and former supermarket are being offered for sale as one holding,” he said.
Wagga Business Chamber manager Michelle Bray said parking issues rested on the type of business and its location, but working closely with council to provide options for affected stakeholders was a priority.
Council believes an integrated transport strategy, including cycling, walking, cars and buses, is important because each mode may impact on the quantity and location of parking spaces across the city.
