Parking problems and pedestrian safety have long plagued the Cardiff CBD, but business leaders are determined to promote positive change.
Prominent business owner Max McCorkell says the community will meet next week to discuss the ongoing issue.
“There has been a lot of complaining but unless you do something about it, nothing is going to change – that’s the whole reason behind this meeting,” he says.
Northlakes Chamber of Commerce and the Cardiff Business and Industry Group will host the meeting at Cardiff RSL from 6pm on Monday 28 October.
Mr McCorkell says the parking problem has only been getting worse.
He believes the state government needs to start investing money to fix the issue, while business leaders are also working with Lake Macquarie City Council.
“We want to get the government to build a multi-level parking space, maybe two, because that’s what it will take to fix the problem,” he says.
“That is where [Independent MP for Lake Macquarie] Greg Piper and [Wallsend state MP] Sonia Hornery come in.”
In February, Mr Piper pushed for new multi-level parking to be built at Morisset, Cardiff and Fassifern train stations.
“I had concept designs for Morisset drawn up because I wanted to show the state government and the local community what could be done,” Mr Piper said at the time.
“While I believe the best potential is on the Sydney-bound side of the station, a car park on the Morisset township side could incorporate a pedestrian bridge to the shops.
“We’re already seeing significant problems at Cardiff, too, where all-day commuters park out residential streets because there is no adequate parking near the station.”
According to Mr McCorkell, this problem has shown no signs of relenting.
“There was the football and races in Sydney last weekend – it was over parked again and there was no parking in town,” he says.
“These are issues that we can’t fix, but they can.”
Lake Macquarie City Council is in the early stages of developing a transport management plan for Cardiff as part of its city-wide parking strategy.
The plan aims to expand transport choices with safer, more convenient and inviting walking, cycling and public transit options; improve availability of parking; and support and maintain productive use of the business area in the town centre.
It also seeks to determine if the state government can provide more parking facilities at Cardiff Station in the future.
You can complete an online survey via shape.lakemac.com.au/cardiff-tmp before Sunday 10 November.
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