Extension plans spark parking debate
A “minor” extension at Bunbury Farmers Market has sparked angst from some Bunbury city councillors who are concerned with parking at the popular facility.
The council will tonight consider a development application for additional storage space and reconfiguration of an existing plant room at the market.
While during a briefing session last week Deputy Mayor Jaysen Miguel, chief executive officer Mal Osborne and sustainability, planning and development manager Thor Farnworth stressed to councillors that the development would not affect parking, the proposal still prompted a heated response.
Crs Brendan Kelly, Michelle Steck and Karen Steele each questioned what was being done with parking at the facility with Cr Kelly claiming the markets were “stringing us along”. Mr Farnworth responded that there was an application for planning approval to deal with parking in the pipeline, but the facility’s parking already complied with the town planning scheme.
The market could not be contacted for comment.
However, Mr Farnworth also revealed negotiations were under way surrounding the facility.
“The Farmers Market is in negotiations with the land owner immediately next to them, adjacent to them and they have an application for a reciprocal parking arrangement,” Mr Farnworth said.
“They are in negotiations with Main Roads to have their own unique slip lane and entrance, which would really help things along.
“We are pretty confident looking at the site and the opportunity for all those land owners to come together and work collaboratively, that they can pick up more than enough car parking over the road as part of a new show room and office space kind of development.
“Then the challenge simply is to get Vittoria Road so that it functions well and we have good pedestrian movement over that road.”
Last week’s debate prompted a warning from Mr Osborne that the council was considering a minor extension and not parking.
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