A Wollongong City Council plan to turn a dirt lot in the Thirroul CBD into a car park has been pushed back as much as a year.
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A planned study of parking in the suburb will also be delayed.
The dirt lot outside Woodward Memorial Park – just north of the Lawrence Hargrave Drive-Railway Parade intersection – has become an unofficial car park as parking spots close to the CBD have become harder to find.
With a lack of line marking in the lot, motorists have been parking wherever there is space.
Some motorists have taken to parking in the middle of the lot, which has caused difficulties for motorists trying to reverse out.
Last year council announced plans to turn the space – part of which is also owned by RailCorp – into a formal car park.
Ahead of laying bitumen, council planned to add line-marking, improve the layout and remove trip hazards.
The work – budgeted for $180,000 – was due to be completed this month.
However work has not started on the car park and a council spokesman said it would be completed in the next 12 months.
“Council has investigated the area and completed a design for interim maintenance works which was to include addressing trip hazards, minor drainage improvements, and speed hump installation,” the spokesman said.
“Instead, the project to formalise the area to a sealed marked car park has now been listed in Council’s capital works program for the 2016-2017 financial year.
“Construction will be programmed as the design progresses.”
There was also a traffic and parking study planned by council to gauge what effect the 150-space commuter car park had on traffic flow.
This study has also been delayed to take in changes to the rail timetable.
“Council understands the demand for commuter parking at Thirroul has altered since the State Government initiated the three-month trial of a new timetable that includes additional stops at Austinmer,” the spokesman said.
“Transport for NSW will provide results of patronage and changes in parking demand.
“Council is waiting on the results of the trial and whether the trial arrangements will be retained on a permanent basis.”