Paid parking coming to Stromlo Forest Park but money will help facility grow

Users of the popular Stromlo Forest Park will no longer have a free ride but will have to pay for parking once a new, sealed and bigger car park is built this year.

The government has adopted the National Arboretum model, where all parking revenue goes back to the facility. In Stromlo’s case, this will allow investment in new tracks and trails and general maintenance.

Special Minister of State Chris Steel said the current unmarked dirt car park could no longer cope with the increasing number of visitors and was unsafe, especially with the wet weather washing away sections.

Mr Steel said the new car park would boost capacity from 316 to 509 spaces, including 16 for people with a disability.

He said modest and flexible fees would suit those who needed to use the park for long periods: 15-minute drop-offs will be free, 15 minutes to 3 hours will cost $1.75, 3 to 6 hours will cost $2.75, and 6-plus hours will cost $3.90.

An annual $87 pass will also be available, equating to $1.67 per week or about 24 cents a day over the year. The fees will be reviewed annually.

Mr Steel said the estimated revenue from the car park would be $238,000 a year, but with annual visitation at 560,000 and growing, that amount could rise.

He said the park would still receive other government funding in addition to the parking revenue.

Construction of the paved and lit car park will begin in May and be complete by the end of the year.

The government is also set to begin work on a five-year Stromlo Forest Park Trails Master Plan, in which the public can have their say.

It will review existing trails and plan for new trails for key site users, including runners, mountain bike riders, road cyclists, equestrian riders and the general public.

“It’s clearly getting to the point where from a work health and safety point of view and also to achieve the vision that we’ve established in the master plan that we do need to make changes to the parking but in a way that also benefits the users out here by making sure that they’ve got more attractive new tracks and trails,” Mr Steel said.

“What I’ve heard, particularly from the mountain biking community, is that while we’ve had a number of tracks and trails that have been established here now at the park for around 10 years, they’d like to see more interesting and new challenges on the mountain.

“The development of the Trails Master Plan, and then using the investment from the pay parking, will enable us to establish some new tracks and trails which will make this an even better facility and more interesting for the existing users and also draw in new users and new major events here to Stromlo Forest Park.”

Canberra Offroad Cyclists president Matt Batty said the park was no longer coping with the kind of growth the facility had experienced over the past few years and needed an upgrade.

“We do need the resources to make sure that [growth] is sustainable,” he said.

“It really is good that the management here and the government have been looking at opportunities for multiple ways to do that so that the users of the park know that the park is going to be maintained and that they’re going to get value for money.

“Someone’s going to pay, the question is, who’s going to pay? How are they going to pay and when are they going to pay? And it’s appropriate that those who get the most bang from the park at least contribute in some way.”

We Ride director of national advocacy Stephen Hodge said the car park plans and master plan were great news for park users.

“We love the fact that the money raised here, essentially a gold coin donation, is going each time you come back into the park,” he said.

Mr Hodge said cycle tourism was worth more than $1 billion to the Australian economy, and the parking initiative and the master plan work would only increase the number of people coming to Canberra to use or compete at the park.

“We’re really pleased to see the government’s commitment to continue investing in this marvelous community but nationally recognised facility as well,” he said.

“We’ve already held a world mountain bike championship here and a world cup here and international level running races. There’ll be many more to come, I’m sure.”

Mr Steel also said the park’s Criterium Track extension would be completed this week, giving non-car users a safer way to access the park.

The new connection to the pool would enable triathletes to complete running, swimming and riding competitions seamlessly.

The government also remained committed to a flow trail from Stromlo to the Cotter this term.