State panel urges Shire of Augusta-Margaret River to plan for future town centre parking challenges

The State’s Joint Development Assessment Panel has advised the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River to have a serious rethink about parking in the town centre. The shortfall in parking resulting from the Fearn Avenue hotel development approved on Tuesday sparked a wider discussion around the future of the busy tourist town. It followed revelations from Shire planners that cash in lieu compensation for the parking shortfall was not sought because the Shire had no direct plan in place for how that funding could be used to create more parking in the vicinity. Presiding member Tony Arias said the Fini project showed the Shire needed to re-examine its forward planning. “Maybe it’s something the council needs to consider as a realistic option or we’re going to face the same issue (in the future) whether there’s enough parking in the town centre,” Mr Arias said. “A strategic approach to carparking is what is required and I would favour the use of cash in lieu funds.” Senior planning officer Don Bothwell said the Shire’s existing parking strategy said there was adequate parking in the town centre. In 2014, the Times reported the Shire’s parking strategy found Margaret River had an adequate supply of parking, but more than 500 extra bays would be needed by 2035. Introduction of timed parking was debated twice since then and not supported. Mr Bothwell acknowledged the strategy could be updated. “That’s on a list of things we are looking into,” he told Tuesday’s hearing. JDAP member Neema Premji said the latest matters showed that strategy needed to be reviewed. “This will be a recurring problem,” she said. “A (revised) strategy is very important.” Cash in lieu reserves also needed to be factored into that review to provide options, Ms Premji said. Member Kanella Hope added to the review pitch by warning Margaret River would face further development pressures in coming years, giving a nod to the region’s population growth. Speaking at the JDAP meeting, business owner Miriam Bailey said new bays added by the hotel needed two-hour limits and neighbouring businesses could be given parking passes. However, Shire councillor Ian Earl said the council’s impetus in supporting the hotel despite the parking shortfall was to avoid turning more of the town’s CBD into asphalt. “We need to get past this business of having so many carparks around the place,” he said. “It’s something our council has been grappling with for some time, how to get less cars in the town centre over time.” The meeting also heard reliance on privately owned carparks in the CBD needed to be addressed in any strategic review.