Denis Street Car Park

Thank you for your feedback, this consultation is now closed and under review.

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.

We are seeking your feedback on these options, the current carpark design, and if you support the establishment of formalised carparking in this space.

Next Steps

Your feedback will be presented to Council, who will make a decision on the future use of the land based on community feedback.

As this community land is currently designated as a road reserve, the decision to convert it into a formal carpark will need to be made by the Council if supported by the community. Based on community feedback, Council may also decide to investigate alternative options such as removing parking or returning the space to its previous appearance.