Community members who shop, dine, work and live along or near Pakington Street in Geelong West are invited to give feedback on our draft plans for public parking for the popular strip.
The aims to ensure there are available car parking spaces for different needs such as short-term, all-day and disabled parking, as well as making parking rules more consistent in areas where land use is similar and maximising the use of existing spaces.
We’ve provided recommendations to increase turnover and availability of existing public parking along Pakington Street and behind businesses on the strip by analysing conditions and needs of the area and engaging with the community and businesses last year.
Fifty-three people left 68 comments on the interactive map on our Have Your Say page. ‘Parking availability’ was the most chosen category for those who gave feedback online, with ‘Safety concerns,’ ‘Time restrictions,’ ‘Disabled parking’ and ‘Loading Bay concerns’ among the other topics discussed.
Local businesses who attended two workshops with the City raised availability, parking rules and enforcement as issues and made suggestions on how to improve customer experience.
The draft plan’s aim is to improve management of existing car parking spaces by restriction changes and, where needed, improving turnover to increase availability.
It also suggests introducing more accessible parking spaces and changing loading bay restrictions to increase turnover.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
The Pakington Street and Gordon Avenue Urban Design Framework (UDF) includes an action to prepare a Public Parking Plan for the Pakington Street North and Heritage Core Precincts.
This draft plan reflects Council’s commitment to enhance the shopping and dining experience at our beloved Pako Street with the community’s insights and assistance.
We want to build on how existing public parking spaces are managed so that they better cater for the needs of businesses, local community and visitors and Pako continues to be a gem in our region.
Councillor Jim Mason – City Planning chair
This is another opportunity for the business and broader community to come together and help the City ensure parking at Pako improves.
Parking availability, turnover and consistent parking rules are just some of the factors that can make a visit to your favourite Pako shops, cafes and restaurants and go-to businesses easier.
I thank those who have contributed so far and encourage everyone to review the before Wednesday 16 August 2023.
