Barry McDonald calls for changes to Goulburn's CBD plan

Barry McDonald, a Regional Development Australia Southern Inland board member and local man, has lodged an extensive submission on the draft plan, put to the council in December. He was writing in his capacity as a resident.

“(It) is illogical and very much anti the motoring public,” he wrote.

“Goulburn residents rely on motor vehicle transport due to the lack of public transport in the town. There is clearly an over obsession with tree plantings and gardens but no mention of the high maintenance costs that will be implemented.”

Mr McDonald said the plan was better suited to “high density inner capital city redevelopment” rather than a country town.

The council has invited community feedback on the document, completed by consultants, Spacelab. Council general manager Warwick Bennett has branded it an exciting document but was keen to hear from the public. Submissions were due to close on February 28 but this has been extended until April 30. 

On February 21 the council hosted a special feedback session with the Goulburn Chamber of Commerce, which has raised some concerns about the proposal. 

Mr McDonald argued that Goulburn had an above average ageing population who relied on parking close to their destination.

“The draft master plan shows complete disregard for this and appears to be aimed at pleasing the cafe culture and pushbike fraternity – not the majority of motoring residents,” he wrote.

“The council is constantly highlighting the growth of Goulburn and surrounding areas yet (the plan) proposes extensive removal of parking spaces in Auburn Street – the main street of town. This is illogical and doesn’t make sense.”  

Mr McDonald said the council would be better off applying “local commonsense” rather than “irrelevant ideology.”

He sat on a CBD future car parking working group, for which Spacelab also produced a report. Mr McDonald rejected Spacelab’s conclusion in the CBD study that previous parking reports found Goulburn had an excess of spots.

Instead it had concluded that any future CBD works should result in no net loss of spaces.

He described as “ridiculous” the current study’s suggested change from 45-degree to parallel parking in Auburn Street’s southern block. Mr McDonald said the former was the easiest form of parking and minimised the likelihood of damage.

In the same block, he objected to proposed cycle lanes, saying they were more suited to inner capital city areas and presented the possibility of car doors impacting with cyclists and litigation.  

In addition, Mr McDonald said removing 15-minute parking from in front of the Post Office and replacing it with a bus zone, was “illogical.” He argued people would not catch a bus to the performing arts centre and Post Office customers would be forced to walk further. 

Mr McDonald also challenged suggestions that people would be willing to park in Bourke or Church Streets and walk to their destination.

“There is an opportunity to widen Bourke Street by narrowing the very wide footpath area in front of the council building and create 45-degree angle parking instead of the current parallel parking. Why isn’t this being suggested,” he asked.

However he agreed with council moves to shift trucks out of Auburn Street. The council has asked the Roads and Maritime Service to reclassify Auburn Street from a State to a local road.