Macedon Ranges council is keen to encourage residents to alter their “car dependent” mindset.
During discussion for an application to waiver the need for 34 carparking spaces for a new restaurant in Gisborne, councillor Mandy Mees said the council’s cycling infrastructure “should be front of mind”.
The council approved the waiver, paving the way for a 100-seat restaurant to go ahead at a vacant building at 10 Robertson Street, Gisborne.
At least four bike parking hoops will need to be installed near the restaurant’s Brantome Street entrance as a condition of approval.
The council usually requires 40 carparks for a restaurant of such size.
The applicant, Powerhouse Projects, provided a traffic engineering assessment that stated carparking demand for the restaurant would peak during the evening – after normal business hours.
The assessment argued ample street parking existed after hours and proposed that restaurant customers could use carparking near the Coles supermarket.
During discussion, Cr Mees spoke of a need to alter the “mindset of the community, which is currently very car dependent”.
“Our planning scheme supports cycling infrastructure, that should be at front of mind,” she said.
Mayor Jennifer Anderson agreed.
“We do need to look at alternate ways,” Cr Anderson said. “We do need to stop doing carparking.”
The parking waiver will expire if the restaurant closes or if the waiver is not used within two years.
