Nose-in parking for Fitzroy St, Grafton

Published on 17 November 2021

A shift to nose-in parking for Grafton CBD has been fast-tracked for a section of Fitzroy St, following concerns about damage to the heritage building posts from reversing vehicles.

In mid-January 2022, forty-five degree nose-in parking will be installed on the southern side of Fitzroy St, adjacent to the Grafton Hotel and adjoining properties from 91-97 Fitzroy St. The changed parking conditions will be effective once the signage and new line-marking is in place and there will be temporary signage to provide extra warning for motorists of the new arrangement.

While rear-to-kerb parking has several benefits, backing into spaces is a challenge for some drivers and can result in damage to property, delays to traffic while reversing and reduced parking capacity if vehicles encroach on the next parking space. Grafton Hotel have had ongoing issues with vehicles reversing into their posts, compromising the structural integrity of the heritage listed building and causing maintenance burdens.

Nose-in parking was successfully trialed in Prince St this year resulting in the adoption of nose-in parking for the Grafton CBD Precinct Plan. Creating a more pedestrian friendly environment with slower speeds was central to the development of the plan. However, while reducing vehicle speeds is safer for pedestrians, it is important to keep traffic flowing to avoid delays and frustration for motorists.

The new parking method will result in less traffic delays and other benefits including:

• when parking, motorists can view high kerbs and footpath obstructions more easily
• vehicle exhaust emissions face away from the footpath and outdoor dining
• cars are not reversing into a pedestrian environment.

Implementation of the Grafton CBD Precinct Plan and associated nose-in parking changes are subject to external funding, design, broad community engagement, including business, residents and First Nations people.