Council concern with Park and Ride plan

by JAMES POYNER
23rd September 2024

MANNINGHAM COUNCIL has made a detailed submission during the public consultation period of the the UDLP (Urban Design and Landscape Plan) for Doncaster Park and Ride.
The consultation period closes on September 24.
Doncaster Park and Ride is scheduled to close in January 2025 for development works, which are expected to take up to four years.
Council submits the current design proposed should not be approved and proposes Doncaster Park and Ride be developed as a mixed-use zone, transit-orientated development (TOD) and had previously commissioned concept designs (July 2022) for such a development which incorporated commercial spaces and additional parking.
While NELP has previously rejected the concept, Manningham Council persists Doncaster Park and Ride as a TOD is a better outcome for the area, especially in the light of future urban growth.
Council’s submission goes on to critique the NELP’s UDLP; issues raised include (but are not limited to) the use of Perspex for noise walls as the material is suspectable to scratches and can appear dirty and will encourage graffiti, which is noted as a recurring issue within the North East Link Urban Design Strategy; the Drop and Go Zone as being inadequate and likely to cause congestion; and the limited tree planting is a wasted opportunity to plant more trees.

Parliament advocacy

Council also approved a letter of advocacy to be sent to Sonja Terpstra MP to highlight “growing concerns” about public transport capacity and amenity when Doncaster Park and Ride is closed in 2025.
The letter asks for more consultation on the temporary bus stops that will come into effect when the Park and Ride facility (and its car park) is closed.
It notes that the temporary bus stops will be in use for three years and that pedestrian safety and comfort “must be prioritised.”
The letter also expresses concern about commuter capacity, stating that the upgraded Bulleen Park and Ride — designed to offset the closure of Doncaster Park and Ride — is already at high capacity.
It goes on to say:

“The limited appetite of NELP to provide any additional measures to mitigate the impacts caused by this closure is incredibly challenging.
Increased parking congestion in nearby local streets is anticipated, and commuters will have to make alternative arrangements (including potentially shifting to private vehicle travel).
The parking congestion in particular will fall to Council to manage and will impact the lives of residents for a significant period of time.
Council’s position is that these issues are the responsibility of the State to resolve, given they will be a direct result of NELP works.”

How will this impact you?

Public transport around Manningham is a hot topic, further compounded by congestion and disruption caused by the North East Link construction.
Council’s response to the Doncaster Park and Ride UDLP indicates it may get significantly worse before it gets better, further challenging the promotion of transport methods that reduce the number of cars on the road.
With Doncaster Park and Ride closing, M&N Bulletin would like to know how users of public transport around Doncaster and Bulleen anticipate changing their movement around Manningham and beyond in the coming years.
Email us at bulletin@warrandytediary.com.au.