Wagga City Council says it will investigate the construction of multi-storey car parks amid reports of a parking shortage in the central business district.
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Multi-storey options will be considered in a broad parking strategy that is expected to form part of the council's "CBD masterplan", which staff will start preparing in June.
A spokesman said the masterplan would review existing development provisions relating to on-site parking and examine "the best way" to provide parking to ensure it isn't limiting commercial development.
It comes after years of advocacy for improved parking from members of the city's business community, who might have to wait another decade to see their multi-storey hopes realised.
Councillors at their meeting last night reviewed Wagga's Integrated Transport Strategy and Implementation Plan 2040 (WWITS) almost four years after it was adopted.
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The WWITS listed "enter public-private partnerships for multi-storey car parking within walking distance of high employment areas or long stay areas" as a medium-term goal council hoped to achieve in six to 15 years.
Safe multi-storey parking in the CBD was among the top 10 priorities raised in public submissions to the WWITS before it was finalised in mid-2017.
Mayor Greg Conkey said a number of sites had been suggested for multi-storey car parks, including next to Woolworths on Johnston Street, but the project was "certainly not in the short-term budget for this council"
Cr Conkey said the council hadn't yet committed to building a multi-storey car park, but he expects to eventually see two constructed to cater for both Baylis Street and Fitzmaurice Street.
"We have a very long main street. I think in the fullness of time we'll be looking at two: one on the northern side and one on the southern side," he said.
Sculpted Jewels boutique owner Roley McIntyre said parking on Fitzmaurice Street was an issue affecting both businesses and customers, who were having to "drive in circles" to find a space.
Ms McIntyre said she was excited to see the CBD masterplan and that she would ideally like a multi-storey car park built as soon as possible.
"Changing the times just confuses people. What we need is more car parks. People aren't coming down for [just] two hours anymore ... because there's so much more to see now," she said.
Wagga councillor and traffic committee member Dan Hayes said parking would require a "holistic" approach as the city grew.
"The challenge is always trying to get the right type of parking to try to meet the demand of the community and businesses," Cr Hayes said.
"If the conversation is solely about parking then we're only talking about cars and ignoring other options."
Serena Hardwick from the Wagga Business Chamber said she would work with the council during its preparation of the CBD masterplan to find a parking solution "beneficial for everyone".