Businesses including Moama Bakery, Murray Hearing Services, Moama Mutts, Farrell Fencing, Moama Nails and Beauty, River Thai, Moama Pizza and Unique Safety Services are concerned about car parking. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Murray River Council’s Meninya St Precinct Project in Moama has sparked concern from Meninya St business owners, disappointed by the future car parking options.
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The Meninya St Precinct Project looks to redevelop the main shopping precinct in Moama. It aims to make the area more pedestrian-friendly and welcoming to visitors, with the addition of wider footpaths, outdoor dining, and more retail and hospitality venues.
Business owners are worried about what they say is a proposed 60 per cent reduction of parking due to the removal of angled parking spaces.
Council discussed the project’s parking arrangements at its most recent meeting on Tuesday, July 23.
Councillors narrowly decided to continue with the proposed design, with Crs Nikki Cohen, Kron Nicholas and Geoff Wise voting against this motion.
Crs Cohen, Nicholas and Wise also voted in favour to fund an amendment to the plan, allowing for Moama Bakery and Moama Pizza to keep their angled parking.
While they were not in the majority for both decisions, businesses petitioning for the spaces to stay were grateful for the councillors’ support.
Moama Bakery owner David Wegener believes that the loss of this parking will result in a loss of customers for these businesses.
"If customers cannot get a park out front of our shops and are expected to walk around the block to simply purchase a loaf of bread or a coffee, they will not, they will keep driving to a place that is more convenient," he said.
Moama Bakery reported a 20 per cent decline in trade following the opening of the second bridge, which diverts traffic away from Meninya St.
There are currently angled parking spaces on both sides of Meninya St.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Along with other Moama businesses, they are worried about a potential further loss of customers if there are less parking spaces to choose from.
“I find it extremely frustrating that the Murray River Council has not listened to the Meninya St traders’ concerns,” Farrell Fencing owner Heath Farrell said.
“They are determined to go forward with the current plan, likely causing a significant financial loss to the existing businesses,10 of which have traded continuously and successfully for over 20 years.”
Land owner Dick Naujok has spent decades in the area, and is worried a lack of parking will harm businesses on Meninya St, urging council to review its plan.
“In the last 48 years, I have seen many businesses come and go. Now businesses are staying,” he said.
“I feel the spacious Meninya St and parking is the key compared to other towns’ main streets.
“Please reconsider proposed upgrades without losing parking.”
Murray River Council director of planning and environment Rod Croft responded to the group’s concerns, noting that they took this criticism on board during their recent planning updates.
“Council has considered the recent feedback from local businesses in relation to the 45-degree car parking to remain in the street,” he said.
“In most areas along Meninya St to capture shared pathways and landscaping, there isn’t enough road width to safely accommodate 45-degree parking with the proposed improvements.
“This was consistent with the feedback council received from our community regarding maximising parking spaces but wanting to avoid reversing cars into traffic during busy periods to allow for improved safety and traffic flows.
“The car parking configuration in the concept design is currently under revision as part of the normal detailed design process that council undertakes.
“This review will result in changes to the original concept design and add back a small number of parallel car parks along Meninya St into the designs where possible.”
Mr Croft emphasised that the plans will increase the overall parking spaces around the area, but will reduce the parking options on Meninya St.
He also said council will soon share revised plans for the project on its website.
“Council’s revised plans will provide the Moama CBD with a net increase of approximately 194 parking bays through amendments to the concept design and through the creation of off-street parking (an overall increase in parking of approximately 52 per cent), despite a small reduction in the current number of on-street car parking spaces along Meninya St, through the introduction of parallel parking.
“Council will also look to retain a similar number of disabled car parks along Meninya St through this revision process, with additional spaces being provided in the proposed off-street parking areas, as close as possible to Meninya St.
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