Central Coast parking strategy reveals suburb-by-suburb plans

Whether you live in Gosford, Terrigal, Wyong or Budgewoi, council has a plan for carparking in your area.

Central Coast Council is set to vote on a region wide parking strategy. Picture: Troy Snook

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Central Coast suburbs have their individual needs when it comes to parking.

Gosford is in a world of pain with its parking shortage, Terrigal struggles in peak tourist season while areas such as The Entrance and Ourimbah are coasting along with no urgent need for more parking.

Central Coast Council has drilled right down and investigated the parking situation in each area, while developing the next stages of its Central Coast Parking Strategy and the Car Parking Study.

More commuter carparking is high on the agenda for Gosford. Picture: Troy Snook

Councillors will vote on the strategy and plan at next week’s council meeting in Wyong.

The strategy looks at key areas along the train line such as Gosford, Woy Woy, Tuggerah, and Wyong, while the plan looks at all areas of the region and identifies actions, time frames and costs.

The plan has been developed to manage carparking decisions for the next 18 years, with short, medium and long term strategies adding to a cost of $85.7 million.

Here’s a run down of each suburb.

Gosford

The council has identified three options for parking stations in Gosford, with potential to be funded by the Federal Government’s $30 million commitment for commuter parking in the CBD.

■ Central Coast Stadium – Multi-storey parking with 480 spaces

■ Gosford CBD Eastern Carpark – Multi-storey parking with 800 spaces

■ Gosford CBD Western Carpark – Carpark accessed via a tunnel with 1500 spaces

A multistorey parking station could be build next to Central Coast Stadium. Picture: Sue Graham

The council report states “there is an immediate need to find new carparking options in Gosford, to offset the pending redevelopment of Kibbleplex and to cater for recent major developments in and around the commercial core.

“This parking should be provided on the fringe of or within the core and be supported by frequent shuttle bus services as well as pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.”

Some of the short term strategies include using spare parking at Gosford City Car Park and

Central Coast Leagues Club (if possible) and building carparks on the outskirts of the CBD.

Woy Woy

Woy Woy is another location that has captured the attention of the Federal Government, with a commitment of $5 million towards commuter parking.

While negotiations are underway with Transport for NSW for extra parking near the train station, council states that there is an urgent need for council parking on the outskirts of Woy Woy to be used.

“This could be facilitated via a new shuttle bus service or promotion of existing bus services,” the report states.

In the short term, council will investigate increasing the supply of all-day carparking at the Woy Woy/Deep Water Plaza carpark.

Wyong

Council states the Rose Street Car Park is under-utilised and will work on strategies such as improved wayfinding, smart parking initiatives and bringing forward the expansion of the carpark.

Council states in the medium term, there’s a need for more all-day parking in the town centre.

Down the track (2037/38) council will investigate a new parking station on western side of the Pacific Highway.

Tuggerah

The council states there is a need for medium-long term parking next to Tuggerah Station, and will urge the State Government to fast track plans for commuter carparking

The State Government has committed $300 million to provide additional car spaces through

the Commuter Car Parking Program at 11 train stations across the state including Tuggerah.

Transport for NSW has started investigations at the station.

Council says there a need for more parking next to Tuggerah Station.

Lisarow

Lisarow Station has been hailed “the ideal location for a commuter train station to take pressure off Gosford and Woy Woy train stations”.

However, council state this would require changes to the train timetable and government to cough up money for a new parking station.

One of the more immediate strategies for Lisarow includes extending the existing street-level commuter carparking on both sides of the rail line.

The Entrance

Increases in parking at The Entrance will only happen with a growth in population and tourism.

“There are significant demands for parking in proximity to the eastern foreshore with no spare capacity at the Memorial Park and Entrance Road carparks,” the council report states.

“There is significant spare capacity within The Entrance Public Car Park which is less than 200m from the foreshore. Additional parking is not warranted within The Entrance.”

Council said extra parking is not warranted at The Entrance in the short term. Picture: Sue Graham

Ourimbah

Council state there is no urgency for extra parking at Ourimbah.

However the Ourimbah Town Centre Masterplan includes parking areas close to the station to cater for future population growth.

Warnervale

Extra carparking is needed at Warnervale Train Station in the short term.

The council recommends consulting with Transport for NSW to expand existing commuter carparking areas on both sides of the rail line as much as possible.

Terrigal

There is a high demand for on-street parking in and around The Esplanade, with no spare on-street parking.

“There is significant spare capacity within the Wilson Road Parking Station. Based on this, additional parking is not warranted within Terrigal,” the report states.

The council will make better use of the Wilson Street carpark through digital wayfinding linked to smart technology, similar to the sensors introduced throughout Terrigal last year.

A further expansion of the Wilson St carpark is not floated until 2040.

Parking is hard to come by during the peak season at Terrigal.

Other coastal areas

The council has also looked at areas including Umina Beach, Ettalong, Patonga, Pearl Beach, MacMasters Beach, Copacabana, Avoca, North Avoca, Wamberal, Forresters Beach, Bateau Bay, Shelly Beach, Norah Head, Toowoon Bay, Budgewoi Peninsula and township and Toukley.

The short term plan for these areas is to investigate a shuttle bus service to public parking during peak holiday season and major events.

A medium term strategy for areas such as Shelly Beach, Toowoon Bay, Norah Head, Wamberal, Avoca, Ettalong and Umina Beach is to look at smart parking technology at coastal parking hot spots.

Smart parking technology can include underground counting sensors or cameras.

Is there an area that needs parking attention? Tell us: [e-mail]