Decked parking for farmers market

The Bunbury Farmers Market will be forced to build a decked carpark valued at $1 million to cope with the booming demand from customers.

Town Planning Management Engineering partner Gary Barbour, representing the farmers market, told Tuesday’s council meeting they would submit detailed plans and a development application within four months.

They would then build the decked carpark within 12 months of the council approving the development application.

The news came after the council agreed to allow the business’ workers to park on a block of land on the corner of Vittoria and Jeffery roads.

The council rejected a recommendation from its staff to prevent the application because of concerns it would turn into a permanent carpark.

Parking problems have plagued the farmers market ever since it opened last year.

Mr Barbour maintained it was a temporary move because the business could not have staff and customers parking in the same carpark.

He said the owners of the farmers market had been examining solutions for its parking problems.

“I want to assure councillors that we haven’t been sitting on our hands while we examine these long term options, ” he said.

Cr Michelle Steck wanted the council to reject the proposal because it did not conform with a number of planning documents including the Town Planning Scheme.

“If we continue to approve things outside of the scheme then we don’t uphold the scheme, ” she said.

Cr Karen Steele raised concerns the plan would become permanent which sparked a new motion to approve the carpark but with a two-year limit.

“It is a message to the proponent that they need to get their skates on,” Deputy Mayor Brendan Kelly said.

Cr Steele questioned whether the neighbours of the farmers market wanted a decked carpark “in their backyard”.

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