Council to proceed with carpark

Gosford Council has resolved to lodge a development application for the expansion of Woy Woy Commuter Carpark, following a $10 million funding agreement between council and the Minister of Transport.

The Minister of Transport has allocated funding to progress the detailed design and development approval and will also fund the construction phase of the project.

Tenderers have been asked to provide revised submissions based on an updated tender brief.

Tenders were called by council in February this year to submit detailed designs of the carpark expansion.

It was later agreed by council and the Minister of Transport that option two of the four concept strategies put forward be adopted.

The preferred option involves the construction of two new parking decks, containing 292 extra parking spaces.

However, the Minister for Transport raised a number of issues for council to consider at a meeting in June this year, which further delayed the progression of the project.

The Minister requested council retain existing numbers of on-street and off-street commuter parking in Woy Woy CBD and that all raised decks in the multi-deck commuter carpark being permanently used for commuter parking.

Council has agreed to establish and retain a minimum "base number" of unrestricted on-street and off-street parking spaces within a 600 metre radius of Woy Woy Railway Station for commuters.

According to council's report, council plans to enter into further negotiations with the Minister to update "the Deed of Agreement between council and the Minister for the use of the multi-deck carpark at Woy Woy ... with a view of increasing the term of the agreement".

The report stated: "Council would retain ownership of the completed asset."

Council also agreed for development application fees to be waived and be recorded on council records as a donation.

Council agenda CIT.28, 2 Sep 2008