ADEQUATE parking in the Nowra CBD has long been a controversial issue and two businessmen have decided it’s time to take action.
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Under the umbrella of the Nowra CBD Committee, Lance Sewell and George Parker from Priceline Pharmacy are establishing a parking subcommittee.
Mr Sewell said customers were continually complaining about the lack of parking, which was having a financial impact on his business.
“The last thing people from out of Nowra want to do is drive into town and try and find a park,” he said.
“I know they built one on Bridge Road but that is a very long way for the elderly to walk and is inconvenient for anyone who just wants to run in and out of a shop.”
According to Mr Sewell the committee hopes to work with council to identify whether a multi-tiered car park or land purchases would be best.
“We can pay for it now or we can pay for it later, but in the end we are going to have to pay,” he said.
“We recognise that the authorities will initially baulk at the potential costs involved and advise that funds are not available,” he said.
“The lack of parking in the Nowra CBD is a priority problem and it’s getting worse.
“Big and exciting solutions need to be adopted and applied immediately.”
About 40 years ago the ratepayers association successfully started a campaign to revamp Junction Street and Mr Sewell is hoping to take a similar line of action.
“Junction Street hasn’t had a lick of paint for 40 years and when the campaign first began council rejected the idea,” he said.
“But once they got enough support behind it they spent millions widening footpaths and making it more attractive.
“We are hoping to use the same technique and get enough support to get council to allocate the funds.”
Any retailers, businessmen or shoppers who wish to be involved with the parking subcommittee can contact Lance or George on 4423 2393.
Meanwhile, the Shoalhaven City Council Nowra CBD urban design master plan, expected to be put on exhibition by early next year, will include a strategic parking plan.
According to council’s policy planning manager Neil Southorn, parking demand and supply is a critical part of the plan.
“We are finalising a draft and certainly will be proposing new parking capacity,” he said.
“The master plan will identify and manage traffic through and around the town centre and future parking supply will be determined by traffic movement.”
