Council last year set aside $220,000 in its 2015-16 management plan to finally seal the Bathurst Neighbourhood Centre car park to help ease the parking squeeze across the central business district.

The original funding covered just a standard car park construction using the existing layout, but council staff now believe the area can be better utilised.

In her report to councillors, acting environmental, planning and building services director Janet Bingham said a redesign of the existing car park would create about 51 new spaces.

“Council’s staff have ... identified that by redesigning the car park approximately 51 additional car spaces could be attained (approximately 35 spaces by sealing a previously unsealed section of the car park and ... 16 by reconfiguring the existing car park layout),” she said.

“Staff have also identified that additional improvements could be incorporated into the car park design including improved storm water management, the inclusion of rain gardens and footpaths, as well as the provision of waste bins and cigarette butt bins to reduce the incidence of litter in the area.”

Ms Bingham said the changes would cost an extra $89,000 on top of $220,000 set aside for the project. 

“The additional funds can be sourced from existing allocations, with $45,000 proposed to be sourced from Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) plan funds and $44,000 proposed to be sourced from Section 94 car park funds,” she said.

“It is appropriate to source the funds from these allocations as the improved storm water management of the revised design is consistent with the objectives of the IWCM and the additional car parking spaces achieved allow the use of Section 94 funds.”

Motorists can access the car park from Russell Street and Keppel Street, and Keppel Street businesses, in particular, welcomed the news last year that money had been set aside to upgrade the lot.

Keppel Street spokesperson Peter Wright, of Central Commercial Printers, said last year that a sealed car park was among key elements of a wish list identified by the Keppel Street community.