MEDIA RELEASE 28.07.2019 - MORE PARKING NOT THE SOLUTION
MORE PARKING NOT THE SOLUTION
The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has today advocated for smarter strategies to solve the ever increasing parking problems at the Woy Woy Bus/Rail Interchange rather than simply adding yet more parking spaces.
“Whilst the Chamber welcomes the Federal Government’s $35M commitment to additional commuter parking at Woy Woy and Gosford Rail Stations, it is keen to see smarter options put in place rather than simply adding more levels to the Woy Woy multi-deck car park or using up even more commercial land for at-grade car parking”, said Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales.
“You will never meet the latent demand for car parking at Woy Woy so we have to look to other strategies to encourage commuters to leave their cars at home rather than simply adding yet more spaces”.
“These strategies should include the expansion of the On Demand Transport Service being trialled by the NSW State Government, improving the existing bus services between our town centres, improving the existing kiss n’ ride facilities and encouraging carpooling”, said Matthew Wales.
“We are very lucky here on the Peninsula in that we have a very efficient grid system of roads, level suburban areas, relatively good public transport links and being only an hour and half from the Sydney CBD”.
“But those advantages also mean that people want to live here and commute to the city whilst enjoying our unique lifestyle”, said Matthew Wales.
“And compounding the problem are those who are driving their cars to Woy Woy from as far afield as Kincumber, MacMasters Beach and Copacabana rather than cope with the congestion at Gosford Rail Station”.
“We are a better option which unfortunately is adding to the problem locally”, said Matthew Wales.
“’By using local bus services and On Demand Transport more efficiently, our road system does have the capacity to cope with the demand”.
“Simply adding more car parking spaces is not a smart solution”, said Matthew Wales.
“But fundamentally, we have examine the basic issue of why 8,000 people a day commute from Woy Woy rail station to the Sydney metro area”.
“This comes down to the lack of local jobs and job opportunities”, said Matthew Wales.
“The Chamber believes that the Federal Government should be doing more to promote employment opportunities on the Central Coast so that people don’t have to commute into Sydney in the first place”.
“These strategies should include the revitalisation of the Woy Woy commercial centre, improving planning controls to encourage commercial redevelopment and boosting incentives for residential accommodation close to the Woy Woy rail station”, said Matthew Wales.
“Sadly, none of these initiatives have been taken up by either the Council, State Government or the Federal Government at a time when revitalisation processes are so important”.
“By all means improve the parking infrastructure but address the fundamental reason why you have the problem in the first place”, said Matthew Wales.