THE debate over how many car parks are suitable for a supermarket development continued at last night’s City of Greater Bendigo council meeting. For the second time in as many months, the council was set to debate a plan by supermarket giant Aldi to set up in Bendigo, this time at Eaglehawk. The 1683 square metre development is planned for the current site of Fitzy’s Home Hardware in Peg Leg Road. Fitzy’s is due to move into the former Stafford Ellinson site in California Gully. In February the council voted down Aldi’s plans to build a similar-sized development in Kennington. The perceived lack of car parking was one of the reasons given for four of the eight councillors voting down the plan. The Kennington development asked for a waiver from the state government guidelines of 26 car parks, taking its total to 101. The Eaglehawk plan is for only 67 on-site spaces, when 131 are required under the guidelines. However, Aldi produced a traffic study supporting the reduction based on a study. That study found only half the number of parks were needed, a statement backed up by council staff. “Current parking for the existing hardware store is mainly provided in off-street parking in Peg Leg Road and Darling Street,” the report said. “The proposed car parking provision is therefore considered to be an improvement on the situation and adequate.”
