The plan to make it even harder to park near the O-Bahn

PARKING around Paradise Interchange could be further reduced under a push to ban all-day parking on nearby Darley Rd. Will it affect you?

Paradise Interchange parking full by 8am. Picture Dylan Coker

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PARKING around Paradise Interchange could be further reduced under a push to ban all-day parking on nearby Darley Rd.

Campbelltown councillor Matthew Noble has suggested the new parking ban, saying commuter cars are creating a traffic hazard on the busy road.

His push comes as the State Government threatens to not renew its lease of the interchange’s overflow 150-space carpark at the neighbouring Influencers Church.

Cr Noble told the East Torrens Messenger his proposed parking ban — on the eastern and western sides of the road — would improve safety for drivers, cyclists and O-Bahn commuters.

“Darley Rd is a road that has three lanes each way, but one lane simply doesn’t exist because cars sit there all day,” Cr Noble said.

“There has been some reports of accidents along there where cars have gone into the parked cars.”

The O-Bahn is used by more than 30,000 people each weekday.

The number of boardings has increased by more than one million since 2010/11.

When the East Torrens Messenger visited the interchange last week, commuters were streaming into its main carpark from 7am.

By 8am, few parks remained, forcing drivers to use the overflow carpark or park on nearby streets.

The State Government last year ruled out building a multi-storey carpark at the interchange, instead funnelling $160 million into an extension of the busway into the city.

The Advertiser last week reported the government was considering not renewing its $75,000 annual lease on the overflow carpark at the church site.

Influencers Church spokesman Darryn Keneally said the government was “saying it didn’t want to renew the lease”.

Julie Tilbrook, who has lived in Paradise for 40 years, said adequate parking at the interchange was well overdue.

“It is an absolute disgrace that the government before the 2014 election promised increased parking at the Paradise Interchange and then pulled out,” Mrs Tilbrook said.

“The government is hugely at fault there by spending $160 million on one thing to save a few minutes, but not actually providing the proper infrastructure for parking at that interchange.”

O-Bahn commuter Nick Greening was frustrated by the already limited parking at the interchange.

“It is a nightmare if you don’t actually get in there when a spot is available, you pretty much have to drive into town,” Mr Greening said.

Regular commuter Arnold Kesselaar said any reduction in parking would cause frustration for drivers.

“I’m usually here relatively early, but it always jam packed here and if you arrive a little bit later you are in trouble,” Mr Kesselaar said.

Hartley state Liberal MP Vincent Tarzia, who has launched an online campaign to pressure the State Government to provide additional parking at the interchange, said the lack of spaces was appalling.

“The council motion that has been suggested will have the unintended outcome of cars having to park on residential streets because the government has failed to provide additional car parking,” Mr Tarzia said.

“It’s completely unacceptable for the government to not renew the lease unless they provide additional car parking facilities at the interchange.”

He said, if elected, the state Liberals would commit to building a carpark to address the shortage of spots at the interchange.

The Transport Department did not respond to questionsregarding the future of the overflow carpark.

Campbelltown Council was due to discuss the possibility of banning parking on Darley Rd next week.

Additional comments

Chris Kaye

“Last time, I was five minutes late and I got the last park in here just on 8am so everyone after would have had to park on the street.”

Hasel

“It is going to be shocking and I’m not sure where people are going to park,”