Although several trees have been identified as significant specimens at the Elsternwick site, they are not unusual or unique to the municipality.  Any trees that can be retained and/ or repurposed to a different location on site or within the municipality will be.

None of the trees have been identified as significant specimens and would not be classified as high retention at the Bentleigh site. However, any trees that can be retained and/ or repurposed to a different location on site or within the municipality will be.

Small-scale development was anticipated for each site, which is what the budget has allowed for.

Each site is projected to have three levels.

The roof level provides a great opportunity for activation at the Elsternwick site, which is facilitated by the external stair and a direct connection from street. The southern half of the floor-plate is conceived as space for an Urban Farm, which could be used and managed by a local community group. The structure is designed to accommodate the associated loads if the space was converted for this use. The space could also be used as a rooftop bar, restaurant, cinema or playground.

The Bentleigh side provides great opportunity for community ownership, creative expression and local engagement in creative arts with a curated L1 soffit and rooftop space for things like film and exhibitions. The space could also be used for a cinema, bar or other events. The urban forest on the site will create a unique pocket park, providing more tree canopy within the municipality and offering another space for the community to use.

The design for the car parking structure at Elsternwick has considered futureproofing in the form of adaptive re-use at ground level. This is achieved with the provision of a wide setback from the western boundary which provides separation to over-looking balconies to the parking structure. Along with provisions for services connections, this allows for approximately 660m² of parking area connecting Stanley St to the rear of the Glen Huntly Rd shops to be activated with commercial tenancies. This could become retail, hospitality, recreational or creative studio spaces that enhances the connection through to the existing adjacent commercial precinct. Re-purposing this western portion of the site will avoid costly and potentially redundant structural upgrades needed to support change in use at upper levels, whilst planning of the vehicular movements on the eastern side of the site means that the upper level car parking in unaffected.

The design for the car parking structure at Bentleigh has considered futureproofing in the form of adaptive re-use at street level. This is achieved by increasing the gradient of the L00-L01 ramp to provide 3.6-4.0m head clearance to the underside of the Level 1 structure. Along with provisions for services connections, this allows for approximate 840m² of parking area facing Bent Street and the southern laneway to be activated with commercial tenancies. These could become retail, hospitality, recreational or creative studio spaces that extend from the existing adjacent commercial precinct. Increasing the floor-to-floor height at the lowest level avoids costly and potentially redundant structural upgrades needed to support change in use at upper levels, whilst activating the street frontages allows for the car parking to remain operational above.

The parking structures will address safety issues around the sites using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles, including eliminating hiding spots and dead-ends, adequate lighting, clear view lines for passive surveillance and encouraging increased community use throughout the day with suitable co-located activation.

At the Elsternwick site, the parking will have a generous setback from the apartments on the western boundary and it is proposed that the eastern facade will be solid to eliminate over-looking to the eastern neighbour.

At the Bentleigh site, the neighbouring residences will be separated from the parking structure by a large landscaped park.

It is envisaged that sound generated by the proposed carparks will only be very marginally more than the current use of the sites. Light spill will be managed by screened facades that also allow for natural ventilation, clear view lines and fall protection. The landscape intervention at both sites will also help to manage light spill and acoustics.

No materials have been selected for the feasibility phase of the project, however, ESD principles have been considered to outline the sustainability opportunities for each site. A key consideration of the facade performance is natural ventilation, which minimises/eliminates the need for energy intensive mechanical systems.

Each parking structure is proposed to be 2 levels above ground. The Elsternwick traffic flow is via ramp at the rear of the site, with open circulation within each level. The Bentleigh structure incorporates ramping within the layout.

There is the opportunity to provide toilets at each site, which would likely be located on the ground level.

There is the opportunity to provide end of trip and/or bike parking facilities at each site.

Officers engaged Urbis to undertake feasibility and gain a better understanding of the following:

• Purpose the carparks would serve;
• Demand for the carparks and if commuters would use the carparks once constructed;
• The effects on the community, including the traffic impacts; and
• Possible design considerations and case studies.

Urbis considered the objectives of the Federal Urban Congestion Fund as well as the previous work undertaken by VLC Consulting regarding the ‘Efficacy of Commuter Carparks’ presented to Council back in October 2021 which identified that approximately one-third of the new car parks would result in trips being diverted from driving closer to Melbourne.

Elsternwick:

• There is sufficient supply of Park and Ride parking in Elsternwick to support demand in 2031.
• By 2031, with the redeveloped Park and Ride car park it is expected that there is total demand for 64 Park and Ride car parking spaces.
• Alternative uses for the site should be explored to realise opportunities for community benefit of the site.
• Over-catering for parking on the site will result in car parking spaces being used by commuters working in the Elsternwick activity centre.
• About half of car park users also visit the activity centre.
• The high rate of cross usage between users of the Park and Ride car park and the activity centre presents the following challenges:

−Local all-day workers parking in Park and Ride car parking spaces.

−Ensuring good access between the activity centre, the train station and car parking.

• The existing road network has capacity for the additional car parking.

Bentleigh:

• Additional demand for Park and Ride parking by 2031 presents an opportunity to transition to sustainable first/last mile solutions for commuters.
• By 2031 it is anticipated that there will be a total Park and Ride demand of 279 spaces and a combined demand from Park and Ride/local worker parking equating to 294 spaces. The existing supply of 206 represents a shortfall of spaces.
• There is a significant opportunity to transition this community to using more sustainable transport modes to access the station over time.
• A transition to more sustainable first-and-last mile trips could result in alternative ancillary uses for the site which would realise broader community benefit of the site.
• 19 per cent of car park users also visit the activity centre
• There is opportunity to build upon the comparably low cross-usage between commuter car park users and the activity centre by ensure good pedestrian access between the activity centre, the train station and parking.
• The existing road network has capacity for the additional car parking.

Park and Ride demand in Elsternwick will not be significant in 2031.

• Demand for Park and Ride car parking within the Elsternwick catchment is significantly below supply with 236 all-day parking spaces provided and Park and Ride demand of 53.
• However, based on Journey to Work data for employment within 200 metres of the station and areal imaging observations, these car parks currently appear full. This could indicate a large number of local workers using the Park and Ride car parking for jobs in the Elsternwick activity centre.
• This modest demand projection for Park and Ride parking suggests that other alternative site uses should be considered for the Park and Ride car park.

Park and Ride demand on the Bentleigh corridor is a serious issue. Along with all-day local worker parking demand, it will continue to exceed supply without behaviour change.

• Current demand for Park and Ride within the Bentleigh catchment slightly outstrips supply.
• It is likely that people are currently driving ‘up the line’ from places like Highett, Moorabbin and Patterson, which have fewer all-day parking spaces, to stations such as Bentleigh and Ormond to Park and Ride.
• By 2031 it is anticipated that there will be demand for a total of 279 Park and Ride spaces at Bentleigh (an undersupply of 73 spaces based on the number of existing all-day parking spaces in the centre).
• There is also demand from local workers in the Bentleigh catchment who also use the all-day parking available in the activity centre.
• By 2031 the Park and Ride demand plus local worker parking demand will equate to around 294 spaces.

New car parking capacity will not add significant demand for road space at either site. There is capacity in the networks.

In their report, Urbis has uncovered further benefits and value that the carparks could add to the community such as:  

• Activation spaces provide opportunities for social programs and amenities.
• Cross usage between the sites and activity centre, benefiting traders and local economy.
• Artistic and permeable façade that celebrates local character and will improve the look and feel of the site and the community.
• Rooftop could provide creative opportunities that achieve sustainability goals.
• Positive social impact through rooftop and public open spaces.
• Landscape greenery that improves the air quality and social impact.

When council commissioned the VLC report, the project was at a different stage and Council did not have the feasibility data it now has. The VLC report is more based on literature, where the Urbis report is more based on facts and data.

A $660 million Commuter Car Park Fund has been established within the Urban Congestion Fund to invest in commuter car park upgrades that encourage greater use of public transport by increasing car park spaces next to train stations. Glen Eira City Council has been offered $20 million by the federal government to deliver projects under the Urban Congestion Fund. To receive the funding, Council must use it for its original purpose which is to design and construct car parking in Elsternwick and Bentleigh near train stations.

The money will be returned to the federal government and Council will not proceed with the car park projects.

Because the distribution of funds under the Urban Congestion Fund was the subject of an Auditor-General’s report which highlighted a number of concerns about the granting process, Council commissioned an independent probity report to review any probity risks associated with utilising the grant money for the delivery of the two car park projects. The probity report concluded that with proper risk mitigations in place, Council should proceed with conducting community engagement to inform the decision-making about progressing (or not progressing) the car park projects.

Council commissioned an independent report by Veitch Lister Consulting to better understand the effectiveness of urban “congestion busting” measures such as commuter car parks, buses and protected bike paths in cities like Glen Eira. We will use the evidence to assist in our decision-making about progressing (or not progressing) the car park projects. The report findings will also be helpful to community members as they consider their feedback during the community engagement phase.

The new proposed sites were chosen due to their closer proximity to the train stations and activity centres, and to allow for smaller-scale development.

A total of 175 car parking spaces could be achieved at the Elsternwick site. This would be an additional 99 spaces to the currently existing car park.

A total of 197 car parking spaces could be achieved at the Bentleigh site. This would be an additional 59 spaces to the currently existing car park.

If the proposed projects proceed, concept, scoping and feasibility development will begin in January 2022, with construction likely to commence in January 2023 and conclude in March 2024.

In section 3.1 of the VLC Report, it states that “the increase in capacity park and ride at Bentleigh and Elsternwick can be expected to reduce the rate of car trips towards the CBD by about one third of all new users of the car parks, or in other words, every three new car parks will mean one less longer distance car trip towards the CBD.”

The impact on congestion was investigated further by Urbis, and they found that in Elsternwick a mode shift of less than 10 per cent would be achieved however in Bentleigh there is an opportunity to achieve a 10 per cent mode shift.

In section 4.2 of the VLC Report, it states that the “diversion of drivers to park and ride will have a small effect on congestion between the station and the CBD and surrounds as the likely destination, although potentially there will be a small increase in local traffic around the park and ride facilities.” The report goes on to conclude that “we can expect approximately one-third of park and ride users to divert to public transport rather than driving to their destination. This can be expected to generate congestion reduction benefits.” In section 5.4 of the report, it concludes that the slight increase in congestion may be more likely in Elsternwick.

The impact on congestion was investigated further by Urbis as part of feasibility, and they found that new car parking capacity would not add significant demand for road space at either site. There is capacity in the networks.

If the project progresses to construction, the Rotary Club has expressed interest in the Bentleigh Market being permanently relocated within the Bentleigh activity centre, so the market can maintain it’s ‘open air’ quality. Council will engage with the community on the potential relocation should this occur.

In the structure plans for Bentleigh and Elsternwick there are two existing Council car parks identified for future multideck carparks. Council’s Structure Planning processes, informed by community consultation, identified a need for additional car parking in both Elsternwick and Bentleigh activity centres. While these processes did not explore commuter carparking specifically, the proposed car parks would also service the broader needs of the activity centre outside of commuter hours. The intent of consolidating some at grade car parks into a multideck facility would mean the vacated land could be made available for open space and other facilities to benefit the local community. The original sites were on Bleazby Street in Bentleigh and Stanley Street (East) in Elsternwick. The Federal Government were proposing to partially-fund projects on these sites.

Glen Eira’s Integrated Transport Strategy identifies that parking will continue to play an important role and complement our transport system. It is expected that the commuter carparks may play a role in encouraging more public transport trips, which may also assist in achieving our target of 50:50 mode share of car and non-car trips by 2031.

Parking will be free of charge.

To receive the funding, Council must build the carparks in the key areas identified by the Federal Government; Bentleigh and Elsternwick.

The previously identified locations on Bleazby Street in Bentleigh and Stanley Street (East) in Elsternwick were ruled out by Council as they were much larger sites and would have required a Council contribution to fund the multideck carparks. The new sites on Bent Street in Bentleigh and Stanley Street (West) in Elsternwick are better positioned in terms of proximity to the train stations and are smaller sites which means they can be fully funded by the Federal Government with no Council contribution required.

This option is very cost prohibitive and wouldn’t be possible with the current allocated funding.

There are not specific parking conditions associated with the funding regarding car parking time allocations, as commuters can work a variety of hours therefore making it difficult to set standard hours of use. The carparks will be open for traders, visitors and residents in non-peak times such as after hours and on weekends.

There are a number of reasons why the proposed carpark sites in Elsternwick and Bentleigh have changed.

In 2020, Council undertook a phase of engagement to inform the community of the carpark proposals at Stanley Street (East) in Elsternwick and Bleazby Street in Bentleigh. Overall, the feedback from this consultation process raised several concerns with local residents and traders.

Following the community feedback, Council continued discussions with Commonwealth representatives to propose alternative possibilities of how the Commonwealth funding could be utilised.

Council was able to negotiate an increased funding commitment to a combined $20.6M, which would fully fund the construction of two commuter carparks at the new sites in Bentleigh and Elsternwick, allowing for smaller scale development and better access to train stations and other public transport options.

No, parking will be free of charge.

Glen Eira’s Integrated Transport Strategy identifies that parking will continue to play an important role and complement our public transport system. It is expected that the commuter carparks may play a role in encouraging more public transport trips, which may assist in achieving our target of 50:50 mode share of car and non-car trips by 2031.

The car parks directly respond to the future needs of the respective Activity Centres as outlined in Council’s Structure Plans.

Council’s Structure Planning processes, informed by community consultation, identified a need for additional car parking in both Elsternwick and Bentleigh activity centres. While these processes did not explore commuter carparking specifically, the proposed car parks would also service the broader needs of the activity centre outside of commuter hours. The intent of consolidating some at grade car parks into a multideck facility could mean the vacated land would be made available for open space and other facilities to benefit the local community.

At this stage, we have not yet developed this level of detail. Council is still in the process of deciding whether to accept the funding from the Federal Government’s Urban Congestion Fund. Should Council decide to progress with this project a detailed feasibility study and concept designs will be developed. Council will be proactively seeking to consult with the Glen Eira community during this next phase of the project.

Council explored the option of underground parking with the Federal Government, along with other Councils with similar funding arrangements. Unfortunately, due to the high cost of undergrounding the car parks, the Government were not supportive of this option as it was believed not to represent value for money and is not an investment they will fund.

The structure plan for Elsternwick is undergoing a refresh and will be presented to Council in late 2022.

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