During the busiest time of the year, parking in Kyneton’s CBD is more difficult than ever with construction works blocking out vital retail parking spaces on Mollison Street.
A week out from Christmas, a conga-line of tradie vans, utes and construction sites wiped out 17 parking spaces in the town’s centre, leaving shoppers and local businesses frustrated.
Local business owner Brian Wilson said while investment and long-overdue building repairs were good to see, the impact on parking in the lead up to Christmas was not good for the local economy.
“It’s a busy time for everyone, but if people can’t park, they can’t shop local and that affects businesses, jobs and even simple things like collecting the mail from the post office,” he said.
Mr Wilson suggested that building permits and council-approved or endorsed traffic management plans needed to better consider the potential impacts on local people.
He also questioned the wisdom of granting permits for non-essential works during peak retail and tourist periods.
Rebecca Stockfeld, council’s director of planning and environment, said that Mollison Street was a state-managed road, therefore was subject to certain approvals – such as a TMP (traffic management plan) – required through the Department of Transport and Planning.
“Council has cited this paperwork in relation to works at 107/109 Mollison Street and has approved a Regulation 116 form (Report and Consent for Protection of the Public – required for building works creating hazards over public land) and also issued an Asset Protection Permit,” Ms Stockfeld said.
“Planning permits generally includes a condition to begin works within two years of the permit being issued.
“These permits generally do not specify restrictions on the time of year works can be completed – an exception may be if a proposed TMP was to clash with a known public event.”
The parking constraints come at time when businesses in Kyneton are working hard to offset a decline in tourist numbers and increases in rates, government fees and taxes.
