By Violet Li
Parking concerns have emerged for the proposed Cranbourne Hub, prompting a debate among councillors for a solution.
Council’s engagement outcome report has identified parking as a key concern after a four-week community consultation earlier this year on the concept design of the proposed hub.
A number of community members are worried that the capacity of the onsite parking and adjacent roads will be insufficient to respond to the activation of the hub.
The proposed Cranbourne Hub will be located at the Council’s Lyall Street carpark, and a total of around 27 car parks will be provided on site, with the number subject to later change as the design evolves.
The parking concern was also expressed in a written submission from the Casey Residents and Ratepayers Association. It states that residents are concerned with the proposed location and what it would mean for available parking on and around Lyall St to access small businesses and service providers in central Cranbourne on High St outside Cranbourne Park shopping centre.
In response to the concerns, the Council acknowledges that there will be a net reduction in parking, which is appropriate for the desired level of activation and urban intensification, and claims that there is an adequate parking supply within 400 metres of Lyall Street and sufficient capacity within the existing road network to accommodate anticipated demand generated by hub activity.
“It should be noted that while a portion of the community is concerned that the location is not ideal and parking provision will be insufficient, the balance of community feedback acknowledges the benefit of delivering the Hub within the centre of Cranbourne, adjacent to the bus interchange and alternative parking options,” the council officer report says.
The parking concerns were discussed at the May Council Meeting, as the engagement outcome report was tabled.
Gary Rowe, Councillor of Correa Ward, where the proposed hub stands, raised an amendment and requested a report in 2026 that details the outcome and recommendations for additional capital investment arising from an investigation of pedestrian connectivity, parking, and any other amenity upgrades that will support accessibility in proximity to the proposed hub.
According to the Council’s project timeline, the detailed design for the hub will be ready around 2026 to 2027.
Cr Carolyn Eaves opposed the request, believing that the timeline didn’t add up.
“My problem is the amendment mandates a report in 2026 before council plans for the hub will be finalised, and it also mandates that report before the State Government’s treatment of the high street is formalised,” she said
“I don’t see how we can actually recommend additional capital investment or budget for it when plans have not been finalised.”
Cr Michelle Crowther opposed the location for the proposed hub, citing the parking concerns. She pointed out that over 80 per cent of the survey respondents during the community consultation said they would drive to the hub.
“The hub doesn’t just service Cranbourne. It services residents from the whole of Southern Casey who don’t have public transport options and rely on cars,” she said at the meeting.
“We’re pushing cars onto residential streets, which are not designed to be car parks.
“I think about the mums attending for Storytime and struggling with their kids on the street, trying to get their kids into prams, crossing lots of roads, and walking 200-plus metres to reach the hub.
“I fear it’s just going to be too difficult for our community to access the hub, and we’ve invested a lot in this project.”
Cr Crowther also noted that High Street traders want more parking.
“With the removal of this carpark (1-3 Lyall Street), again, we are pushing more cars onto residential streets,” she said.
Cr Kim Ross highlighted the necessity to improve the physical access and community safety around the site.
“The community also very much want active transport, and as a whole, we want to try and reduce our reliance on cars, which is a huge task, and it involves a lot of infrastructure work,” she said at the meeting.
“It’s important that when we implement new projects that we provide access to all members of the community.”
Other key concerns identified in the engagement report include the location of the proposed hub and the estimated $40 million cost. However, it is noted that the proposed location and the budget allocation for the project are non-negotiable, as specified on the consultation webpage.
The Council’s four-week concept design consultation attracted 128 online survey responses, two written submissions, and five question-and-answer requests.
Survey respondents ranked parking onsite as the design element they like the most when they think of the building as a whole. Outdoor elements such as seating, shade, garden beds, grass, and trees ranked second.
The engagement outcome report was noted at the May Meeting, and the hub project gained the principal endorsement among councillors to proceed.
Council officers may make changes to the concept design in line with the engagement outcome report.
