A NEW strategy could promote activity and economic growth in Horsham’s city centre, councillors say.
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But councillors also believe the council’s municipal parking strategy would require education and a change in people’s mindset.
The council, at a meeting on Monday night, released the draft strategy for public comment.
The council’s director planning and economic Angela Murphy said the strategy aimed to give the council a greater understanding of the current parking environment in the city.
“This project presents an excellent opportunity for council to plan and develop the city centre for people and pedestrians, not cars,” she said. “It creates an environment for people to walk and to meet, presenting opportunities for traders, and reducing car dependence.”
She said a number of sources, including parking occupancy surveys from December 2016, had informed the strategy.
“The survey results showed no significant changes in car parking occupancy levels over the last five years, with the 2016 result showing 62 per cent occupancy level,” she said.
Ms Murphy said there was a direct relationship between the municipal parking strategy review and Horsham CBD revitalisation strategy.
Cr Alethea Gulvin said the strategy was a chance to encourage people to be active.
She said walking would allow the community to experience Horsham’s businesses and the area better.
“It is good that we are trying to push for more people to walk down the main street rather than depend on our cars,” she said.
Cr David Grimble said providing the public, who utilise the parking spaces, with a chance to comment on the strategy was important.
He said the strategy would require education to change the community’s mindset.
“People think if they pay the price of parking outside the business they want to shop in, then why would they park further away and walk? It’s the mindset we have to change,” he said.
Mayor Pam Clarke said people believed it was a “big issue” when parking was unavailable outside the shops they wanted to visit.
“Economically, if a person has to park around the corner and has to walk to a certain shop then they pass other shops and that is when they tend to spend,” she said.
“Economically, we need more walking and health wise, we need more walking.”
The draft strategy is available for public comment via www.hrcc.vic.gov.au under the ‘Have Your Say’ tab.
It is also available in hard copy at Horsham Civic Centre in Roberts Avenue, Horsham.
Submissions must be made by November 10.