PREMIERS STATEMENTS IN RELATION TO THE TRAFFIC & TRANSPORT PLANNING WITHIN CENTENNIAL PARK.

By: Nadia Jamal   
 

The State Government has rejected a proposal to install parking meters in Centennial Park, which attracts more than 3.8 million visits a year.
The overwhelming view of more than 600 submissions was that the community should not have to pay to visit a park that had always been free.
The Premier, Bob Carr, also ruled out a plan for Grand Drive in which cars would travel in one direction and bicycles the other.
The decision was welcomed by Bicycle NSW. Cyclists had warned the proposed ``two-way'' traffic could lead to fatal collisions.
The parking charges were proposed in a draft transport, parking and access plan for Centennial, Moore and Queens parks. The charges were included as an option to pay for the changes, which were designed to improve visitor entry and safety and to reduce the dependence on cars.
The Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust is now finalising other parts of the plan, including car parking under trees, improved traffic facilities and signage.
The final plan will be released in February.
 

PREMIER Bob Carr yesterday banned parking meters from being installed in Centennial Park and blocked a proposal to change its traffic system.
The Centennial Park Trust was considering installing meters charging between $1 and $3 an hour, which would have helped with a $4 million upgrade of the park's road network.
But Mr Carr said many of the 600 people who gave submissions to a draft park management plan objected to having to pay to use the park.
``Families come from across Sydney and from across the state for picnics, to ride bikes and to watch children play cricket and football,'' Mr Carr said.
``Centennial Park is the birthplace of Federation and one of the city's greatest parks.''
As well, Mr Carr blocked a proposal which would have seen cyclists and motorists travelling in different directions on the park's main Grand Drive, which was unpopular among some cyclists who felt it could be dangerous.
This system would have also removed cars from parking under the Grand Drive's main fig trees, which was
compacting their roots and causing them damage.
Mr Carr announced that the Grand Drive would remain one-way.
The park's draft transport plan is due to be adopted in February next year.