Driven mad over parking

A redevelopment plan for the Australian Catholic Univeristy’s Strathfield campus has sparked outrage from one resident who believes that those in the area will be left with nowhere to park..

The Department of Planning and Infrastructure issued Director General’s requirements (DGRs) on 17 February 2011 for a concept plan for the redevelopment of the Australian Catholic University (ACU) Strathfield campus.

These plans are currently available to the public until 29 February at Strathfield Council, the department’s information centre in Bridge St, Sydney and on the department’s website.

According to a spokesperson from NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure, the proposal includes six buildings ranging from two to four storeys in height, an increase in on-site car parking from 346 to at least 674 spaces, improved access arrangements and pedestrian linkages throughout the campus.

“The department has received an environmental assessment from the proponent. This will be publicly exhibited for a minimum of 30 days as part of a comprehensive merit-based assessment process, which will include consideration of the proposal’s impact on parking within nearby streets,” said the spokesperson.

Strathfield resident, Jane Pistolese, is opposed to the redevelopment and has led a letterbox drop campaign around the area. Mrs Pistolese believes that the area has already been “swamped” by student parking and fears that expanding the campus will only exacerbate the problem.

“The cars are all taking up the streets,” she said. Mrs Pistolese lists a long line of streets, such as Barker, Newton, Oxford, Todman and Albert, which she claims are now “gone as far as parking is concerned” during the university semester.

Professor Marea Nicholson, associate Vice Chancellor Sydney at the Australia Catholic University told Burwood Scene that the development application will help to increase the amount of parking available at the Strathfield campus.

“We anticipate an increase in students of 30 per cent over the next few years, and our Development Application will increase the number of car spaces available by 100 per cent,” she said.

However, the report still acknowledges that the car spaces on campus are a problem.

“Despite the significant increase in campus car parking supply, demand is forecast to exceed supply and hence overflow parking will continue to occur in the surrounding streets,” said the report.

Two-hour parking restrictions are proposed in the report for only one side of the street between 8.30am – 3pm, Monday – Friday, during the university terms.

“The proposed parking restriction will ensure there will be some level of vacant parking spaces for the residents who need to park on-street for a maximum two-hour period during the peak university period,” the report said.

Mrs Pistolese is concerned that parking restrictions could push the problem back further, in turn affecting more streets in the area.

“Residents need to understand this parking nightmare,” she said.