Four car parking spaces in the heart of Mount Gambier’s CBD will be permanently removed and be converted into ‘parklets’.

The decision was made at Mount Gambier City Council’s August monthly meeting last week.

Elected members voted in favour of the recommendation to remove the four car parking spaces directly adjacent Jen’s Hotel.

Located on Commercial Street East, the car parking spaces have been fenced off from use for the past 12 months due to the structural integrity of the hotel verandah post supports.

Mayor Lynette Martin commented on the matter when it was raised for discussion.

“Verandah posts of the hotel are vulnerable to being hit or damaged,” Mayor Martin said.

“The owner of the hotel is reluctant to repair the verandah posts until a safe distance is provided between the posts and the car parks.

“Subsequently the manager has requested removal of the four car parking spaces.

“It would seem the removal of the car parking spaces and replacing them with parklets would be an ideal solution while promoting social connectiveness and creating vibrancy in our CBD.

“When you consider part of the verandah has been propped up for over a year, which looks terrible, anything to improve the aesthetics would be good too.”

Council has requested the hotel to provide a full structural report on the verandah.

Mayor Martin said she recalled a consultant report identified that this section of the city would become a hospitality entertainment precinct.

Ten years ago council explored the use of parklets with a trial on Elizabeth Street for two months in 2012.

Mayor Martin said she was disappointed with the trial at the time.

“I was a little disappointed at the time of the placement of the trial parklet. I do not think that it gave a real true indication of the value parklets could be in our city,” she said.

She also reflected on her own personal experience of dining along commercial street adjacent the cave gardens and town hall.

“I must say I have often contemplated when sitting in a café looking at the magnificent view of the cave gardens and old town hall (that) the view is impeded by cars,” Mayor Martin said.

“We know parklets are used throughout Australia and the world. It’s a great advantage.”

At the meeting, council’s Development Services manager Tracy Tzioutziouklaris said additional props have been placed along the Watson Terrace frontage of Jen’s Hotel.

“They are pending a resolution from council before they proceed to fix the verandah,” she said.

Councillor Paul Jenner moved the report recommendation that council rescind the four parking spaces on Commercial Street East directly adjacent to Jen’s Hotel and that council officers investigate and develop design options to create a pedestrian friendly space.

A public consultation and community engagement plan will also be developed.

The permanent removal of a further 11 car parking spaces within the Commercial Street East vicinity will be explored as a possible second stage development.

Cr Max Bruin seconded the recommendation which had the full support of councillors present at the meeting.

Cr Kate Amoroso was absent from the meeting.

Meanwhile Cr Sonya Mezinec said the parklet was a sensible solution.

“I think it’s a sensible solution. It’s a potential public safety issue,” she said.