Bellarine Times
Thursday 27 March 2014
VOL 7. No 13
www.bellarinetimes.com.au
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OCEAN GROVE & BARWON HEADS EDITION
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YOUR COMPLETE REAL ESTATE GUIDE ON THE BALL
Grubbers and Cobras Michael Boyle, David Price, Paul Sutton and Flynn Drake are ready to receive a handball from new AFL Barwon sponsors Ocean Grove Home Hardware’s Paul Drake and Drysdale Home Timber and Hardware’s Kerri Maher. See page 5. Photo: MICHAEL CHAMBERS
Traders alarmed over proposed loss of central parking options
PARKING PANIC BY TIFFANY PILCHER
WITH public submissions on Ocean Grove’s draft Urban Design Framework (UDF) closing early next week, traders are nervous the proposed loss of car parks in the town centre could potentially cripple their businesses. Up to 96 car parks could be lost if the draft goes ahead, with several parking sites slated for development, including: • A section of the off-street parking lot at the southeast corner of The Parade and Presidents Avenue • A section of the off-street parking lot at the southwest corner of The Parade and Hodgson Street, and • The parking area adjacent to Zebra
Bar and Bistro on the corner of The Terrace and Hodgson Street. The UDF proposes the all-day parallel parks on The Avenue and Presidents Avenue (along the perimeter of Ocean Grove Park) be converted to angle parking to allow for the creation of more parking spaces near the town centre. However, Ocean Grove Hardware’s Paul Drake said it was not a suitable solution as people would have to carry heavy shopping bags and bulky purchases, and push trolleys much further to reach their cars. “In a perfect situation if there were lots of available car parking, this would be an excellent plan and elements of it should proceed regardless. “However, we cannot stick our heads
in the sand and pretend we have available spare parking to sell off, when the clear reality is we do not.” As well as the loss of car parks, Mr Drake said the areas marked for threeand four-storey developments would only add to the pressure already on central parking areas. Sandi’s Spot owner and long-term Ocean Grove Business Association (OGBA) member Sandi Ward agreed, saying council needed to find a way to retain and increase parking spaces rather than remove them. “People already find it difficult enough to find a park now. “Even now, on a Tuesday in March, I have people telling me they can’t find a
park and it’s so much worse over summer. “The developers are supposed to replace them when they build up, but it’s happened before and they don’t. “If this thing goes ahead, we’re up the proverbial creek without a paddle.” OGBA president Helen Butteriss said traders and residents with concerns should take the opportunity to have their say on the draft before submissions closed on Monday. “To lose up to 96 spaces would be devastating, actually. A lot of traders may not be aware of what is being proposed as you had to dig a little through the draft framework to find the information on parking. “It could mean people will go
I H C H
somewhere else where they can find a place to park, even if that means going out of town.” There are four ways to provide feedback on the draft: send a written submission to Planning Strategy, City of Greater Geelong, PO Box 104, Geelong, VIC 3220; hand in a written submission to the Ocean Grove Customer Service Centre or 100 Brougham Street, Geelong; email a written submission to Planning Strategy at planningstrategy@geelongcity.vic. gov.au; or, visit geelongaustralia.com. au/council/yoursay to download and complete a hard copy of the survey or make an online submission. Submissions to the UDF close on Monday, March 31.
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