General News
29 April, 2024
New parking spots near hospital
After much community feedback, the Central Goldfields Shire Council has announced two additional disabled car parking spots near the Maryborough District Health Service. One extra parking spot will be designated on Campbell Street on the corner of...
After much community feedback, the Central Goldfields Shire Council has announced two additional disabled car parking spots near the Maryborough District Health Service.
One extra parking spot will be designated on Campbell Street on the corner of the Central Goldfields Art Gallery, and another at the Clarendon Street end of Neill Street.
Maryborough local Geoff Bartlett, who started a petition for more disabled parking around the hospital, said he is glad to see council take action on this issue.
“The parking issue has dragged on for far too long. It was during the Voice referendum when I stood outside Tren Du Bourg for two weeks that it really hit me just how bad the situation was. That was seven months ago in October,” he said.
“I fear if it were not for my letter to the editor in March and the petition the last couple of weeks, that nothing may have changed.
“The community members I’ve spoken to are grateful that something is finally happening regarding more disabled bays. That just goes to show that making locals matter is where our leaders focus could be.
“Disappointingly though, I’m also informed that the requested ‘clinic patients only’ signage can’t be implemented, so I guess the patients will just have to put up with tradies and gallery visitors taking up the spaces, which in reality is half the problem fellow residents have had concerns with.”
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Liesbeth Long said community input impacted council’s decision to implement the parking spots.
“This was something council was going to look at when the hospital is finished where there will be a lot more parking, however with the public questioning why we couldn’t have more and clearly there is a need for it now, we listened to the community’s feedback and decided to put in some extra parking,” she said.
“This is not just for the hospital, it’s also for people who are disabled and want to go to the town hall, art gallery or post office.
“So far the feedback has been really good, I think everyone is really happy that council listened and did something about it now rather then later.”
Cr Long encouraged locals to contact council if they see any other issues in the community.
“We don’t have crystal balls — it’s the same with roads that are unsafe or potholes or anything like that, we really rely on the community to tell us these things,” she said.
“Don’t assume that council knows everything that needs to be done or needs to be changed, we welcome feedback and we listen to people.”