A $10 million park and ride at Rokeby will go ahead after Clarence councillors unanimously backed the long-promised eastern shore commuter project.
The Department of State Growth facility will give drivers a free place to park before catching a bus into Hobart.
The Clarence City Council approved the plan, subject to conditions, at its June 9 meeting.
The car park will be built at the corner of Rokeby Road and Tollard Drive, near the South Arm Highway.
It will include 199 car spaces, five accessible spaces, 10 motorcycle bays and secure undercover storage for 37 bikes.
Buses will not enter the car park. Commuters will instead use new kerbside stops planned for Rokeby Road, Pass Road and Commerce Drive.
Councillor Bree Hunter, who moved the approval, said the facility had been a long time coming.
“It’s great to have a park and ride facility finally,” she said.
Hunter said she hoped it would attract drivers from Rokeby, Clarendon Vale, Glebe Hill and Tranmere.
Councillor Heather Chong said park and rides could make a big difference for commuters.
She called them a “game changer for people driving”.
Councillor Tony Mulder supported the project but questioned whether the site was the right place for it.
He said Tollard Drive was not designed to handle the extra traffic, pointing to its curves, crests, private driveways and pedestrian use.
“We are creating an Eiffel Tower kind of roundabout situation here where traffic is conflicting … when traffic wants to go left or right and there’s another car that wants to do the opposite,” he said.
“That’s where you get your accidents.”
Several councillors said CCTV should be installed quickly if safety issues emerged.
Planning documents said CCTV provisions would be included during construction, but cameras would be added later.
Seven submissions were lodged during consultation, raising concerns about traffic, noise, lighting and the development’s appearance.
Construction is expected to start later this year.
