Parking is a key issue for the Bayside community. The Annual Community Satisfaction Survey has regularly identified parking as one of the top three issues of concern by Bayside residents.

Council does not currently have a Parking Strategy. As such, parking objectives and processes can be inconsistent and dependent on the context and issue. This impacts on parking operations, supply, enforcement, priorities, and the delivery of public infrastructure across the municipality.

Development of a Parking Strategy for Bayside will help to establish a coordinated, consistent, and transparent approach for the provision and management of car parking across the municipality both now and into the future.

The Strategy will ensure a strategic approach to guide the development of parking policies, initiatives, and/or changes to current policies settings.

Sensitivities around potential solutions may include:

• Competing interests (for example, residents being able to park near their homes, versus shoppers or commuters)
• Trade-offs between the use of open space and convenient parking
• Significant behaviour changes may be necessary

Parking management tools which can be used to address the potential solutions may consist of:

• Establish a defined parking user hierarchy
• Determine parking management options
• Utilise technology for efficient operation and management of parking
• Develop policies to govern decision making

Parking management tools which can be used to address the potential solutions may consist of:

• Time restrictions
• Specific user group allocation
• Parking permit systems
• Planning controls
• Consideration of paid parking

Bayside’s Integrated Transport Strategy 2018 – 2028 states:

“Providing additional capacity through more road space and parking is not a sustainable solution to this dilemma as the increase in trips arising from a growing population and increasing vehicle ownership will continue to outpace road capacity.

Similarly, the provision of additional car parking will also be utilised by the growth in vehicle ownership, potentially leading to a repeat of the dilemma once again.”

The development of the Bayside Parking Strategy is an action of:

• Bayside Integrated Transport Strategy (ITS), Action 62: Develop a municipal wide Parking Strategy.
• Bayside’s Disability Action Plan, Action 4.3: Develop and Deliver Bayside’s Parking Strategy with a Review of Accessible Parking

The Parking Strategy will also align with Council’s existing plans and strategies, including:

• Bayside 2050 Community Vision
• Council Plan 2021-2025
• Integrated Transport Strategy 2018 – 2028
• Climate Emergency Action Plan 2020 - 2025
• Disability Action Plan 2021 – 2025

Car parking is currently managed through two major Policies:

The Managing On-Street Car Parking Demand Policy. This policy:

• Outlines the criteria for decision making relating to parking restrictions
• Identifies a standard approach to implementing car parking restrictions
• Outlines the community engagement process contributing to decision making

Residential Parking Permit Scheme Policy

• Outlines the eligibility criteria and permit entitlements for residential parking permits in Bayside
• Identifies where parking permits are applicable

Council acknowledges that cars are an essential form of transport for many members of our community.

While Council’s goal is to reduce the proportion of trips taken by car and increase trips by sustainable modes of transport (for example, walking, riding, public transport, and car share), we recognise that it will look different for everyone in the community.

Historically, our cities were designed to prioritise cars. Now, we need to provide equitable access to parking for those who need it most and help make walking, cycling and the use of public transport easier.

Parking is an asset that is managed both publicly and privately.

Council is responsible for local roads and associated public parking, paths and trails, walking and cycling infrastructure, and how parking affects these functions.

Parking provision rates associated with developments are defined by State Government planning scheme clause 52.06 – Car Parking. Council can also propose amendments to the planning scheme to support new policy directions.

Council is responsible for:

• Managing local parking arrangements, including the management of public parking facilities.
• Allocation of on-street space and parking restrictions.
• Enforcement of parking regulations.
• Management of parking permit schemes.
• Administering the statutory planning process.
• Advocating to external stakeholders, including the State and Federal Governments, on behalf of the community.

The list of current Council policies and strategies is available via this link. Policies related to parking are as below but not limited to the following:

• Foreshore Parking Permit Policy 2019
• Managing on Street Car Parking Demand Policy 2019
• Residential Parking Scheme Policy 2019

No, the draft Strategy does not propose any changes to current permit entitlements.

The draft Parking Strategy:

• Identifies key parking related issues impacting the Bayside municipality
• Outlines key principles and strategic objectives to address the issues identified
• Recommends changes to Bayside’s parking related policies including management of parking for a variety of competing demands

Provides a framework to manage:

• • Current and emerging transportation and infrastructure requirements
  • Current and future parking requirements
  • Parking management including operations, enforcement, and monitoring

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