Understanding community parking habits and gathering feedback to inform parking solutions.
Situation Explained
LPC led the community engagement process for Port Macquarie-Hastings Council’s Parking Policy and Action Plan (PPAP). Working with Bitzios Consulting, we developed and delivered a community and stakeholder engagement plan to guide the direction of parking management across the local government area (LGA). The engagement informed the PPAP. The purpose of the PPAP is to create a long-term vision for parking in the area and integrate solutions into the wider transport network of the area.
Our Approach
The process included a blend of in-person and online engagement activities that captured input from community members and stakeholders. The engagement process provided opportunities for the project team to gather both broad-reaching and localised context-rich feedback from community members and stakeholders. We heard a range of different perspectives, aspirations and expectations for outcomes across the LGA. Engagement activities included:
- a dedicated ‘Have Your Say’ webpage
- an online survey
- an online interactive map
- an online ideas wall
- social media posts
- an online workshop
- PARK(ing) pop-up events held in Laurieton, North Haven, Wauchope and Port Macquarie.
Results
Initially the in-person engagement opportunities included four workshops to be held in Laurieton, North Haven, Wauchope and Port Macquarie. Due to low registrations, the workshops were redesigned to be delivered as additional PARK(ing) pop-up events in the same locations.
Feedback captured provided insights into community and stakeholder perceptions about the current state of parking. Feedback generally related to:
- ideas for parking design
- ideas and concerns about parking management
- ideas and concerns about communication
- concerns about road conditions
- concerns about accessibility
- requests for more parking supply
- requests for public and active transport to offset car travel and parking.
Input captured through the engagement process provided the project team with a deeper understanding of community views about parking across the LGA and informed the development of the PPAP.