Denis Street Car Park

Consultation Outcomes and Council Decision - 17 June 2025

Thank you for sharing your feedback on the potential upgrade of the Denis Street, St Marys car park site.

Following the recent community consultation, Council has resolved to upgrade the Denis Street site into a permanent car park subject to future funding allocation. For more information please visit our website to view the Meeting Agenda and Minutes.

Project funding is estimated at approximately $500,000 and will be considered as part of Council’s Annual Business Plan and Budget for the 2026/27 financial year. The project has also been added to Council’s list of Election Priorities for the upcoming State Elections.

In the meantime, the current temporary car park will remain in place, with Council continuing to monitor and maintain the site until the permanent upgrade is delivered, subject to future budget allocations.

Thank you again for taking the time to provide your feedback. We will continue to keep you updated as the project progresses.

Background

We invite you to help shape the future of the parcel of land between Denis and Dorene Streets, St Marys.

The land is currently used for informal parking for nearby businesses. While Council has maintained the temporary carpark, we now have the opportunity to formalise the space and enhance its landscaping. The increased business activity in the area has led to higher parking demand, causing traffic flow restrictions along Denis Street and nearby roads, highlighting the need for a dedicated carpark at this location.

Council has developed a new carpark design and landscaping plan for this area to improve parking, pedestrian connectivity, and overall greening.

We are inviting members of the community to give their feedback on the design, and the potential options for its usage as an ongoing space for formalised car parking.

The Design

We have designed the new carpark to balance the needs of reducing traffic and parking demands on Denis Street, St Marys, while also greening the streetscape and improving local biodiversity. The current design includes the removal of some parking spots on the west side of Denis Street to improve traffic flow. It also maintains the current entrance on Denis Street and introduces an exit only route through Dorene Street to improve traffic flow and deter cut-through traffic.

The carpark design emphasises the continuation of the St Marys green corridor, including Denis and Dorene Streets. Light-coloured rocks will help reduce heat, and the use of a permeable surface like Trugrid will support tree growth and sustainable stormwater management. Once planted trees are fully established, this design allows for 64% tree canopy cover, which is not possible with a standard carpark.

The design aligns with Council’s goal of building a climate-resilient city. Most of the carpark materials will be recycled, depending on availability during construction.

Various documents can be found in the Documents tab to the right of this page, including:

• Existing site overview and explanation of the key design drivers
• Concept plans including aerial overview
• Concept look and feel explanation
• Tree and plant selections

The Options

We invite you to share your feedback on the design, and its potential use as a formalised car park, including two options for the carpark's ongoing usage:

1. A lockable gate to prevent after-hours access or;
2. open all hours, which would require installation of six light poles. These lights will be designed to minimise impact on neighbouring properties and local wildlife.