Goulburn's CBD to undergo parking, median strip changes

A reduction in parallel parking, taxi stands and bus stops in the city were also decided.

Councillors at Tuesday night's Goulburn Mulwaree Council meeting prioritised the following areas of the CBD enhancement program:

The CBD enhancements provoked much discussion at the meeting and afterwards.

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Speaking afterwards, well-known resident Jacki Waugh did not agree with some of the resolutions.

"What a waste of money, to spend $320,000 on the replacement of the median strip in Auburn Street," she said.

"The main street is looking good at the moment. This money could be used on other roads that need work on them like Forbes Street that is a danger area, with the increased traffic using it, and there are plenty more roads around that need attention."

"Also, please don't remove the bus stop on Montague Street. It is used by visitors on out of town buses that stop to use the toilets."

Mrs Waugh said coach travellers also stopped to use Belmore Park, the Visitors Information Centre and local food outlets.

"Imagine turning up with a busload of people who have travelled for two hours and they have to park miles away from the toilets, getting the kids out of the bus as a group and walking them all to the park or a bus full of seniors. This is not very welcoming to our city of Goulburn," she said.

"Have these bus companies even been notified and what was their input into this? They will soon start to bypass Goulburn, missing out on business for the city."

In public forum before the meeting, resident Barry McDonald asked whether the council intended to close Market Street at the Auburn Street intersection, once the median strip was gone.

Mayor Bob Kirk said a definite "no" to this, adding "that is not up for discussion."

Satisfied, Mr McDonald moved on, raising the median strip issue.

"The estimated cost of replacing the median strip with trees and related soil and drainage works at $320,000 - does surprise me. I didn't think it would be that high even by today's costs," Mr McDonald said.

On the removal of parking in front of the Court House in Montague Street, Cr Denzil Sturgiss said he could not see the point of changing it.

"We will only gain five extra car parks there," he said.

Mayor Bob Kirk said there should be an overall increase of about 10 car parks in the CBD from the measures.

Deputy Mayor Peter Walker said Cartwright Square, where buses also currently parked, was "too squeezy" and that buses should be directed to park on Bourke Street, near Apex Park, after dropping people off, and returning later to pick them up.

"It's all about getting these buses out of the CBD," he said.

But Cr Sturgiss retorted: "We are wasting a lot of time here and getting nowhere."

Cr Margaret O'Neill added: "We are making big decisions here and we don't even own the road (Clinton Street)."

After the meeting, Mayor Bob Kirk said this round of works would continue to improve the CBD aesthetics, as well as making practical changes to increase car parking for shoppers.

"The landscaping replacement of the median strip in our Belmore Park block of Auburn Street will be an outstanding feature that will make the CBD a greener, cleaner space," he said.

"Regional bus operators will be encouraged to use the Cartwright Place bus zone, or existing Auburn Street bus zones to drop off and pick up passengers."

Mr McDonald also suggested in public forum extending 45 degree angle parking to both sides of Clinton Street between Auburn and Bourke Streets, once the unit developments at the former Marion College are completed.

"These home units will receive visitors who will park in the street so creating extra parking spaces will be essential," he said.

The council did not make a decision on that issue at the meeting.

The CBD plan attracted 10 public submissions.

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