Golden Grove park ‘n’ ride upgrade on hold as new locations scouted

The promised multi-million upgrade to expand the Golden Grove park ‘n’ ride by 220, up to 400 spaces, could be shelved as the State Government looks at other sites.

Tea Tree Gully councillor Lucas Jones says he was informed the State Government was considering a “satellite” of park ‘n’ rides in Golden Grove. Picture: AAP/Sam Wundke.

• Calls for second park ‘n’ ride at Modbury
• Government to upgrade Golden Grove park ‘n’ ride

The promised multi-million upgrade to expand the Golden Grove park ‘n’ ride by 220, up to 400 spaces, could be shelved as the State Government looks at other sites to build a park ‘n’ ride.

It comes as several Tea Tree Gully councillors also claim abandoning the project and instead installing a series of smaller “satellite” park ‘n’ rides was on the table — a claim the State Government denies.

Acting Transport Minister David Speirs said the government would deliver a single park ‘n’ ride in “the Golden Grove area” with the government currently undertaking a North East Public Transport Study which could extend the O-Bahn to Golden Grove.

“This would obviously guide us with respect to the location of the Golden Grove park ‘n’ ride to get the best outcome for the community,” Mr Speirs said.

One of the Liberal Government’s key promises in the lead up to last year’s election was to expand the existing Golden Grove park ‘n’ ride, on The Grove Way, by 220 spaces.

Tea Tree Gully Council officials met with Transport Department representatives this year where “a number of possible locations” for the park ‘n’ ride — including various parcels of land in Golden Grove and along Golden Grove Rd — were discussed, a council report reveals.

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Some of the land is currently owned by the council but the department did not indicate a preferred location, the council says.

But Cr Olivia Savvas said she was told by council staff on a bus tour of the area in February there could be a “satellite” of park ‘n’ rides, including using existing Waterworld carparks.

“It was the intention to use the car park as a park ‘n’ ride during the closure period, perhaps diverting more buses to and from Waterworld for ease of access,” Cr Savvas said.

Cr Lucas Jones added he was informed by council staff a park ‘n’ ride could be built at Lot 50, or use the Waterworld car park at Ridgehaven, during the same bus tour.

“When we arrived at the site where the State Government promised to build the park ‘n’ ride (in Golden Grove) we were told by council staff that this might not be the final location,” Cr Jones said.

“Staff told us that locations on Golden Grove Rd, Modbury Heights and Golden Grove Rd, Ridgehaven, had been raised as possible new locations including using some of the carparks at Waterworld to act as a new park ‘n’ ride.”

Mayor Kevin Knight agreed he had also heard informal talk about a satellite of carparks but “nothing official”.

The state Labor MP for Wright, Blair Boyer, said the government needed to come clean about which locations it was considering.

Tea Tree Gully Council has been contacted for comment