Hornsby residents suggest options to fix commuter parking shortfalls including multistorey carparks and bus services

RECLAIMING vacant land, multistorey car parking and extra bus services across the shire are just a few ways that local residents believe shortfalls in commuter parking could be managed.

The commuter car park at Hornsby Railway Station.

RECLAIMING vacant land, multistorey car parking and extra bus services across the shire are just a few ways that local residents believe shortfalls in commuter parking could be managed.

The call to fix the growing issue comes after the Advocate revealed this month that Ku-ring-gai Council’s estimates to fix parking shortfalls could cost as high as $200 million for 2600 spaces.

Mount Colah resident Leaonard Heaton suggested that the State Government reclaim the former Ampol Service Station site in Mount Colah to provide parking facilities at one local station.

“Build an integrated multi-level car park that provides elevator and escalator access to the southern end of Mount Colah Station,” Mr Heaton said.

“Also extend a pedestrian footbridge with ramp and escalator or elevator access to the western side of the Pacific Highway.”

Commuters are forced to park long distances from the station, clogging streets with cars with people walking down roads with no footpaths or lighting at night.

Mr Heaton also suggested the rezoning of the western side of the Pacific Hwy “to match the eastern side” and “concentrate the bulk of the high rise on the highway within walking distance to the station.”

“There were whispers some time ago that Rail Corp were interested in the land that the old Ampol servo was on, to build an intergrated carpark,” Mr Heaton said.

“The site is in perfect position in releation to Mount Colah train station platform to provide some of the parking requirments for the shire. The issue is that the land is privately owned, so for it to be turned into a public car park will be costly as I’m sure the owner will want to make a profit on the sale if indeed they are actually interested in selling at all.”

Alison King said the State Government need to invest in “multi-storey linked car parks” as an option to beat parking shortfalls.

Ms King suggested the development of “low-level multistorey parks” at Hornsby train station and recommended plans to see the development go “over the train line”.

“Make the top level a green park space area so you can actually cross from one side to the other of Hornsby and have an outdoor area to counter the massive overdevelopment of units in the area,” she said. “Hornsby Central Park perhaps?”

Commuters are forced to park long distances from the station, clogging streets with cars with people walking down roads with no footpaths or lighting at night.

But Phil Buckley and Alex Lenane said that extra bus services, “not just in peak periods”, was another way to beat the rising shortfall in commuter parking.

“Bring in more buses to the suburbs so people don’t have to drive cars,” Mr Buckley said.

“If buses were more frequent and on time and matched people needs, cars wouldn’t be needed so much.”

Ms Lenane said buses outside peak periods would help residents ditch the car for public transport.

“If I drop my kids to school the buses go only every half an hour, and that’s just after 8am,” she said. “I’d much rather get the bus.

“It doesn’t support flexible working at all and there is nowhere to park at any of the train stations.

The State Government is continuing its inquiry into commuter parking across NSW.