Media Release: Council consults on draft municipal parking strategy

In 2010 Council developed a draft Municipal Parking Strategy (MPS). The community had their say on this strategy and Council received some good feedback.

Council has now revised and strengthened the draft MPS in response to the feedback and would like the community to provide comments on this updated version.

Deputy Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr James Rankin, said the draft MPS was designed to help Council and the community tackle some of the hard issues around parking in an effective and consistent way.

“Parking is an important local issue and in some areas is a limited resource,” he said.

“This trend will continue as Melbourne’s population continues to grow and as more people move into inner urban areas, where there is medium to high density development.

“The draft MPS proposes a step by step framework for managing parking restrictions as areas become busier and more densely populated.

“The strategy also proposes tools and new initiatives to effectively manage parking in narrow streets and the provision of off street parking in busy activity centres.”

Portfolio holder Traffic and Transportation, Cr Narelle Sharpe, said the draft MPS was on consultation for four weeks until 21 October.

“Although the majority of the municipality won’t really be affected by the draft strategy I want to encourage everyone to have a look at the revised document and provide feedback to Council,” she said.

“This draft strategy needs to be a bold document that looks many years into the future.

“As Moonee Valley’s population increases we will experience more medium to higher density housing in and around our busy activity centres. We need to be strategic in our planning to ensure we don’t end up with a city that is a traffic nightmare in response to this growth.

“Our challenge is to have strategies like the draft MPS in place that provides encouragement and incentives for people living in and visiting those busy high demand areas to rely more on sustainable modes of transport.

“The draft MPS also need to balance the needs of residents, while supporting a good mix of parking for businesses, workers, shoppers and visitors. This is vital for the economic development a growth of our city.”

Media Release, Wednesday 21 September 2011