The old Shoprite supermarket site on Lead Street has emerged as the most feasible location for a Park & Ride, according to an Options Study put together by Yass Valley Council.
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The study, funded by Transport for NSW, also considered sites on Rossi Street, Crago Street and Yass Valley Way near the Barton Highway interchange. However, the Lead Street location performed strongest when considering a number of factors including cost, environmental issues, accessibility and catchment potential.
The Park & Ride issue became a hot topic of discussion last November when it was proposed to go in next to the Tourist Information Centre on Comur Street. It attracted significant opposition from the community due to issues of encroachment, aesthetics and the appeal of the main street, and development was ultimately rejected.
General Manager David Rowe initially said $280,000 in funding was for a park and ride in Comur Street exclusively but it was later discovered money was still available if council could find a better location. Transport NSW then funded the Options Study which is now complete and up for public exhibition.
Director of Operations Simon Cassidy said because of the public nature of this issue, getting feedback from the community was important.
“When the idea was first proposed at the Comur Street site there was much community interest and debate and we want make sure we capture this early on by encouraging everyone who is interested in the project to read the study and submit their feedback to council,” he said.
“We want to get the right location.”
Councillor Jasmin Jones believed the options study was well put together and said it was good that the public could now have a proper say on where they believe the best location would be.
“I think the fact that we now have four options out to the community tells you that despite the difficult political environment, staff has got this across the line,” she said.
“I commend them, I really do.”
Mayor Rowena Abbey agreed but said her favourite location was the Crago Street site.
“I actually quite like the Crago Street one because there is actually more car parking there but it’s obviously more expensive,” she said.
“But that’s not to say the Lead Street site is a bad option… I just think that if we could get the $380,000 required, I’d go for the bigger car park.”
At the end of the consultation period staff will examine the feedback and provide a report at the next Council meeting recommending where the community’s preferred site.
Residents are also invited to attend a Community Connect Meeting at the Soldiers Club next Thursday from 5.30-8pm to discuss the Options Study.