There’ll not be any new parking for the Lyric Theatre. Images: ACT Government.
Plans submitted for the construction of the Lyric Theatre in the city confirm that it will not have any dedicated parking.
It is understood that including a basement carpark in the project had been a contentious question from the start, but had been settled in favour of going without.
A government spokesperson said the significant cost of building a basement carpark for the new theatre could not be justified, given the availability of thousands of carparks in the city precinct.
But debate about the issue may flare now that the Works Approval has been submitted to the National Capital Authority and a start is close.
The Works Approval made public on Saturday shows that the new 2000-seat theatre, to be built on the upper section of the carpark next to the Canberra Theatre Centre, will rely on surrounding carparks and public transport.
This is the current situation for the CTC, but the rest of the adjacent carpark will be lost to a site compound next month for the duration of the build.
This will also upset nearby businesses, which are already reeling from the impacts of the light rail works.
The Works Approval traffic report from consultants TTW says there will still be substantial parking within the Civic and Cultural District, with more than 5000 public spaces available within a comfortable walking distance.
These include those at the Canberra Centre, City Hill, Constitution Place and Nangari Street carparks, particularly in the evenings after 5 pm and on weekends.
The report says that despite the closure of the Theatre Lane surface carpark from mid-October when it becomes the main construction compound, there is sufficient surrounding capacity to accommodate displaced demand.
Long term, replacement parking is expected to be restored below ground as part of the redevelopment of Block 23 when it is sold.
The government spokesperson confirmed that the carpark was being considered for future land release in about four to eight years.
Parking requirements for future development in this location will be determined as part of the release strategy for the site.
It will remain closed until 2028, pending the completion of main construction works and approvals.
The Works Approval proposes a link between the Lyric Theatre and this future basement parking.
Where the parking spaces are.
TTW states that when full, the new theatre is expected to generate a parking demand of 667 vehicles, with one car space allocated for every three seats.
It argues that public transport, specifically the extended light rail, and active travel, will reduce this level of demand to 545.
The new theatre is sited a block from the Alinga Street light rail stop, and it is expected that up to 18 per cent of patrons will use light rail and buses; cycle, using the bike parking facilities on the northern side of the site; and some nearby residents will walk.
However, the report does not account for instances when there are simultaneous events at the Lyric Theatre, Playhouse, and the old Canberra Theatre space.
There will be accessible parking and drop-off spots for older theatre-goers and people with disabilities.
Multiple accessible parking spaces will be retained, such as those at City Hill and Hobart Place, while dedicated drop-off areas will be provided on Knowles Place near the Courtyard studio and on London Circuit.
A future accessible drop-off point on Vernon Circle is also on the table, as well as the link to the basement in the future Block 23 development.
“These arrangements prioritise equitable access for people with disability, mobility needs and older persons, supported by clear wayfinding and surface treatments,” the Works Approval says.
Vehicle access for deliveries and services to the Lyric Theatre will be managed primarily via Theatre Lane, which will be restricted to authorised vehicles only and closed to public traffic for safety reasons.
The Lyric Theatre loading dock will be accessed from Constitution Avenue via Theatre Lane and is designed to accommodate large vehicles, including 19-metre-long trucks, with dedicated loading bays and passing areas to prevent congestion.
The Works Approval says a public communications campaign will be mounted to assist theatre patrons during the construction period and after the theatre opens.
This will include a publicly available parking and pedestrian access map online, stakeholder updates, online parking advice, and site signage, all of which will be accessible via social media.
Consultation on the Works Approval is open until 20 October.
