Brooklyn Place Plan

Update – July 2024

Agreed outcomes to car parking management following community association meeting

Following Council’s resolution associated with Report No.GM14/24 at the May General Meeting, a workshop was held on Tuesday 9 July with Councillors and community association representatives from Brooklyn Community Association, Dangar Island League and the Brooklyn Mooring Cooperative to determine if agreement could be reached on the future management of car parking in Brooklyn. Per Council’s resolution on the matter, any changes to car parking management agreed to by all community associations could be implemented. If agreement could not be reached, the matter was to be referred to Council for a decision.

In summary, community representatives agreed to the following key changes to car parking management in Brooklyn:

• Installation of 4P parking (6am to 6pm) along the northern/river side of Lower McKell Park - retaining the current 30 minute and accessible parking spaces.
• The southern side of Lower McKell Park is to remain as unrestricted parking – with time restrictions in this location to be reviewed in 12 months’ time in conjunction with investigations to improve access and a tenured parking area in Upper McKell Park overflow area.
• The 14 timed 4P car parking spaces in the Dangar Road Carpark (wharf carpark) to have the time restrictions removed creating a town centre car park without timed parking restrictions.

For further details on the agreed actions from the workshop, please view the letter from Council to the community associations.

The new timing restrictions for McKell Park and Dangar Road Carpark are to commence Monday 2 September 2024.

View map of new time restrictions.

Update – May 2024

Council considered the report on Car Parking Management – Brooklyn at its 8 May 2024 General Meeting and resolved the following:

THAT Council:

1. Acknowledge the continuing challenges that the ongoing trial of the Brooklyn Parking scheme has presented to the local community and acknowledge correspondence received from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – Crown Lands and Public Spaces.
2. Convene a meeting including interested Councillors and the General Manager or his delegate and representatives of each of the relevant community associations to provide greater clarity and understanding of the background to the officers report and to work with the community on next steps including proposals and suggestions from the community with regard to parking.
   
   That these next steps include consideration of the following proposals:
   1. Reinstatement of timed parking in Lower McKell Park along the northern (riverside) row of the carpark in the following terms:
      1. 6am-6pm 4 hour (4P).
      2. Retain all accessible car parking spaces.
      3. Retain all ½ hour parking spaces.
   2. Consideration be given to a number of potential changes that have been the subject of recent discussions, including:
      1. Additional time restricted parking along the foreshore that may apply to weekends only.
      2. Potential for 12P parking along the southern (hillside) row in Lower McKell Park.
      3. Consideration to seasonality of visitor use.

   If there is failure to reach an agreed solution on the above matters, the unresolved matter or matters be returned to Council for resolution.

3. A further report to be provided to Council within 12 months which considers the implementation of appropriate time restrictions in McKell Park. In addition to the above, that reporting should give consideration to:
   1. Progress of an interim licence/lease between a suitably constituted community based group with Crown lands and consideration of any works required to achieve a functioning carpark in areas highlighted by the Department as potential sites.
   2. Further consideration of other possible sites.
   3. Updated attempts to advocate to Transport for NSW to unlock transport land and to provide improved services to Hawkesbury River Station including commuter and regular user parking for train and ferry customers and support the use of the train as a means for all to access Brooklyn.
   4. Progress on a draft plan of management for McKell Park.
4. Following resolution of the above, Council recommence the place planning process for Brooklyn and brief the incoming Council on planning undertaken to date including the progress on this approach to addressing the resident parking issues.

View the Minutes of the General Meeting.View the Council Meeting Business Paper (Item 2) and Attachments - 8 May 2024.

Update – April 2024

At the upcoming General Meeting on Wednesday 8 May, Council will consider a report on Car Parking Management – Brooklyn. Please click on the link below to be taken to Council’s Your Say or the Business Papers for further details.

Your Say

Business Papers

Update – December 2023

Council further considered this matter at its 13 December 2023 General Meeting and resolved the following:

THAT Council:

• Acknowledge the challenges that the trial of the Brooklyn Parking scheme has presented to the local community.
• Act immediately to:
  • Adjust the number of recently implemented 4P timed parking spaces within both the foreshore and ferry wharf area to a total of 35 timed spaces for a four-month trial period, thereby reducing the restricted 4P spaces by a total of 40 spaces.
  • Implement these changes as a matter of urgency and immediately following the approval of the Local Traffic Committee.
  • Provide temporary, motion-activated lighting to provide safety and security for all residents during this trial period.
  • Monitor and evaluate all parking changes during this trial period and report back to Council with a report recommending any further changes not later than the May 2024 Council Meeting.
• Commence action to research and investigate a resident parking scheme together with the concept of a Special Circumstances Parking permit for reporting back to Council in conjunction with the evaluation of the current parking changes.
• Progress long term solutions and funding opportunities within the Brooklyn Place Plan concurrently with this trial and request an update to a Councillors Briefing before March 2024.

For more details please refer to the business papers (Item 11).

Update – November 2023

Over the coming months, Council is progressing the place planning process for Brooklyn. Working with the adopted guiding principles and “working” vision, Council will consider all adopted strategic elements and community feedback to date, and work towards producing options for consideration for the Brooklyn village centre. A briefing to Councillors will be scheduled in the new year, with community consultation to follow.

Guiding Principles and Working Vision

Update – May 2023

Council decision

Council considered a report on the survey results and the recommended path forward with car parking management in Brooklyn at the April General Meeting. It was decided that Council:

1. Acknowledge the efforts and contribution of community and stakeholders to this process, particularly in trying to seek a common understanding and way forward on a long-standing issue for the Brooklyn and River community.
2. Adopt the proposed car parking management staged, roll out schedule attached to General Manager’s Report No. GM1/23 implementing the roll out as part of future Delivery Programs and an Informal Councillor Briefing be held following the trailer removal process to further consider timed parking restrictions.
3. Not proceed with the proposed leased car park in Upper McKell Park overflow area but continue to operate the car park as a free to use parking area in the short to medium term.
4. Note the proposed alternate leased parking locations nominated by the community and further address this matter in the place planning process.
5. Undertake further consultation with the community to determine the extent of need for residents who are not eligible for a Disability Parking Permit but may still require special parking arrangements.
6. Undertake further consultation on the introduction of paid parking in McKell Park and Parsley Bay to respond to community demand for flexible parking.

View the Council Meeting Business Paper (Item 1) and Attachments - 12 April 2023.

View the Minutes of the General Meeting.

Update – January 2023

In September and October 2022 we invited the community to have ‘Your Say’ on proposed changes to car parking management in Brooklyn. The proposed changes were based on the adopted Car Parking Management Study and Council’s requirements as land managers. Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in this process and for completing the survey or providing a written submission. A total of 466 surveys were completed both online and in paper-based form. Please click on the link below to be taken to the summary of survey results for further details.

Brooklyn Car Parking Management Survey Results

In summary, the demand for parking is high throughout the Brooklyn Village Centre and users require flexibility in the length of stay afforded to them.

Next Steps

Council will consider all survey feedback received and it is anticipated that the matter will be considered further by Council in 2023.

Update – November 2022

Thanks for providing your feedback on the proposed changes to car parking management in Brooklyn. We’ve received 466 survey responses which has amounted to 1867 pages of data. We’ve also received multiple, detailed written submissions and suggestions – which we understand would have taken many, many hours for the community to pull together – thank you for your efforts! The project team will be reading, coding and considering each and every submission that has been made and so it will take us some time to finalise this process. We expect to be putting the results of the consultation back to Council for consideration in 2023.

Update – September and October 2022

At the August 2022 General Meeting Council resolved to put the recommendations associated with the Car Parking Management – Brooklyn report on exhibition for a period of a period of 8 weeks.

The consultation on these recommendations is being undertaken via The HiVE – www.yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au. On The HiVE you’ll find background information, project time frames and a survey to provide your feedback.

The survey is open from 29 August 2022 until 30 October 2022.

If you have previously provided a written submission on this subject, there is no need to provide another written submission as earlier submissions have been reviewed, However, we encourage you to complete the survey.

Update – August 2022

At the July 2022 General Meeting, the consideration of the Car Parking Management – Brooklyn report was deferred until August General Meeting due to the flood event on the Hawkesbury River. Please click on the link below to be taken to the Business Papers for further details.

Business Papers

Update – July 2022

A resolved approach to village centre parking

At the July 2022 General Meeting, Council will consider a report on Car Parking Management – Brooklyn. Please click on the link below to be taken to the Business Papers for further details.

Business Papers

Update – August 2021

In April 2021, Council released the Discussion Paper – Brooklyn Place Planning for community comment and feedback. The community provided feedback on the discussion paper via an online and paper-based survey.

At its July 2021 General Meeting, Council considered a report on the community feedback received via the survey on the Discussion Paper – Brooklyn Place Planning and resolved to:

1. Note the survey results and summary of comments received during the exhibition of the Discussion Paper – Brooklyn Place Planning.
   A summary of community feedback received through the survey can be found in the summary of survey results.
2. Endorse the guiding principles and priority actions for the development of the Brooklyn Place Plan as outlined in the Discussion Paper.
   The guiding principles and priority actions used to develop the Brooklyn Place Plan can be found in the Discussion paper extract – guiding principles + high priority actions.
3. Endorse the revised “working version” of the vision for Brooklyn such that it may be further tested with stakeholders as the Brooklyn place planning process progresses.
   
   The “working version” of the vision for Brooklyn is:
   
   Brooklyn protects its unique natural environment and celebrates its rich European and Aboriginal heritage and waterfront village atmosphere.
   
   The Brooklyn village is a liveable place for people that is welcoming and vibrant for the whole community – both residents and visitors.
   
   The village centre is attractive, well maintained and provides support for local businesses.
   
   In fulfilling its function as a port and transport interchange, Brooklyn village will support all river communities to transition between river, road and rail.
4. Staff to hold a workshop with Councillors to discuss an approach to, and principles associated with, car parking management in Brooklyn. A workshop has been scheduled with the newly elected Councillors early in their new term in 2022.

In summary, Report GM 31/21 effectively pauses the place planning process in Brooklyn to instead focus on addressing car parking at the request of the community.

A consultation process will be initiated with the community once the newly elected Council can be briefed on the relevant matters in early 2022. Engagement on car parking in Brooklyn will be based on the Car Parking Management Study – which was adopted by Council in September 2020 – Report GM 21/20.

Documents

• Guiding principles and working vision for Brooklyn - 670KB
• Discussion paper summary – Brooklyn place planning overview - 3MB
• Discussion paper – Brooklyn place planning – best version for printing- 38MB
• Discussion paper – Brooklyn place planning – best version to read online for viewing maps - 37MB
• Discussion paper – Brooklyn place planning – summary of survey results - 2.2MB

Next Steps

The newly elected Councillors will be given a briefing by staff in early 2022 to determine the next steps in relation to car parking in Brooklyn.

Update - December 2018

View the Brooklyn Improvement Masterplan Project.

Contact us

Have a question or want to know more about the project? Please email the team place@hornsby.nsw.gov.au or call Julia Morton, Place Manager on (02) 9847 6052 or David Johnston, Strategic Place Manager on (02) 9847 6800.