MEETING OF COUNCIL - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2012
DV12.142 ACCESS AND PARKING STRATEGY - PART TWO - PRECINCT PARKING
MANAGEMENT PLANS - ENDORSEMENT OF THE STRATEGY AS A
GUIDING DOCUMENT FOR THE FUTURE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT
OF PARKING AND ACCESS IN THE TOWN
SUMMARY:
To accommodate growth in the commercial centres, the question of access becomes an
increasingly significant issue. How employees and visitors will travel to these centres will be
dependent on their access to a wider range of transport modes. A greater level of
management will also be required to ensure that there is maximum use of available facilities.
Sole reliance on the motor vehicle simply cannot be accommodated. The ability of our roads
to carry continually increasing traffic and the cost of providing parking do not allow this
approach to the demand for parking and better access to commercial centres to continue.
Instead, use of alternative modes, such as public transport, walking and cycling are
becoming increasingly necessary.
In early 2011, the Council commissioned a study to look at how these future access needs
can be met. At the present time, the main areas experiencing growth pressures are the
centres along Cambridge Street in West Leederville and Wembley and the medical zone,
around St. John of God Hospital. Whilst requiring a general review of the Town's Off-Street
Parking Policy, the study brief also required particular attention to be given to these four
centres. Strategies can be fairly broad, however, this Strategy looks at the detail, as well as
how the actions recommended can be effectively implemented
The Access and Parking Strategy was undertaken in two parts. Part 1 involved developing
an understanding of the issues associated with access and parking and current policies,
examining possible options and solutions, and developing short, medium and long-term
recommendations. Also, to support the first part of the Strategy, future parking demand
(based on the uppermost estimates of development yield for the four centres over a 20 to 30
year timeframe) was assessed and impacts on future traffic volumes examined. Part 2 of
the Strategy includes the future access and parking requirements and policies for the four
commercial centres (including the Medical Zone) and provides practical Precinct Parking
Management Plans which provide detailed guidance on how to implement the strategic
direction over a 5 to 20 year timeframe.
In addition, the Strategy has also addressed parking management, enforcement, education,
information systems, private parking, future parking ratios and parking surveys as they apply
to the Town as a whole. Further progression of these aspects of the study will be integral to
the development of a long term parking strategy and inturn the Town's transport strategy.
The Strategy's recommendations in this regard will be further progressed as the transport
strategy is formulated.
The Strategy has been guided through the Town Planning Scheme Review (TPSR) Steering
Committee.
H:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\12 MINUTES\NOVEMBER 2012\B DV.DOCX 75