Parramatta City Council CEO, Greg Dyer, said the city’s booming commercial and residential development sector will see the next stage of the Macquarie Street car park closure make way for a proposed 26-storey mixed-use development that features a new 700 space car park.
“This car park is one of three Council-owned single-level outdoor facilities that are in the process of closing to enable exciting new developments to occur that will further revitalise our CBD,” Mr Dyer said.
A further 30 spots at the 189 Macquarie St car park will close on January 19, following the closure of 70 spots and the Hassall St entrance in early December 2014. The remaining 126 spots at the car park are due to close in February.
Mr Dyer said other CBD car parks have substantial spare capacity to accommodate motorists who park at these three affected sites.
“We have worked closely with businesses and workers to provide detailed information on where they can find the closest available parking,” he said.
“The recent installation of digital parking signage at key entry points to the city will also help motorists locate nearby parking.
The signs are updated in real time with direct feeds from Secure Parking and indicate car park location, directions as well as the number of vacant bays in each car park.
“We encourage users to plan ahead and find an alternative facility that best suits their needs. In most cases, ample parking will be available nearby at the same or lower cost.”
My Dyer said there are currently 3,450 Council-owned off-street car park spaces available within the Parramatta CBD.
“While the closures will temporarily result in around 350 fewer spaces, the total number will rise to 3,800 once the new 700 space car park at 189 Macquarie St is built,” he said.
To be delivered in 2017, the new public car park will have facilities for a range of commuters, including bicycle parking, lockers, shower facilities and recharge points for electric vehicles.
Other car park closures occurring in the city are:
• The 75-space Lennox Bridge car park, which is expected to close in late 2015 to allow for construction of the proposed new Riverside Tower project including a Council-owned Discovery Centre and exhibition space. This project is awaiting approval by the Sydney West Joint Regional Planning Panel.
• The temporary 81-space car park at Smith St, which closed in November 2014, is making way for construction of UWS’s new campus on Parramatta Square.
Detailed information and maps to advise car park users on how they can best find alternative parking is available at www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/changesahead.
