Castlemaine Primary School Parking Study

  • Project typeDesign
  • Project scheduleDesign phase in progress
  • Completion Date30 June 2026
Castllemaine-Primary-School.jpg

Mount Alexander Shire Council is progressing the Parking and Safety Improvement Design Project to enhance pedestrian and traffic safety along Mostyn Street, between Urquhart Street and Andrew Street, adjacent to Castlemaine Primary School. This project focuses solely on design, not construction, and aims to deliver a coordinated plan that improves traffic flow, parking management, and pedestrian safety in a busy school environment.

The project responds to increased safety concerns following the installation of the signalised intersection servicing the Woolworths Shopping Centre and the high volume of school‑related movements in the area.

The area of study and design is within the red box, shown in the image below.

Locattion-of-Castlemaine-Primary-School-parking-studies.jpg

Design considerations

The design phase will assess and incorporate a wide range of elements in the design plans, including:

  • Traffic and parking behaviour — understanding how vehicles currently move, queue, and park during school and non‑school hours.
  • Pedestrian and cycling activity — documenting movement patterns and identifying safety risks.
  • Accessible parking integration — ensuring the existing accessible bay on Mostyn Street is retained and improved where necessary.
  • Regulatory signage — reviewing and updating signage to support safe traffic and parking behaviour, including school‑specific needs.
  • Line marking and lane delineation — improving clarity for drivers and pedestrians.
  • Parking formalisation — proposed sealing, grading, drainage, and potential reconfiguration (parallel or angle parking).
  • Footpath design — creating a safe, accessible connection on the south side of Mostyn Street between the parking area and the school entrance.
  • Kerb and channel upgrades — defining parking areas, protecting pedestrian zones, and preventing vehicle encroachment.
  • Splitter island feasibility — assessing whether a pram‑ and bike‑friendly refuge island can be safely accommodated at Mostyn & Urquhart Streets.
  • Bus movement considerations — ensuring school bus operations remain functional.

Council have provided the appointed consultant with traffic counts, community feedback, previous traffic studies, and proposed CBD speed‑limit boundary information.

Project outcomes

The completed design package will deliver:

  • A fully coordinated set of detailed plans for traffic, parking, drainage, and pedestrian improvements.
  • Safer pedestrian access to and from Castlemaine Primary School.
  • Clearer parking arrangements that reduce conflict and improve visibility.
  • Improved traffic flow during peak school periods.
  • Infrastructure recommendations that support long‑term safety and accessibility.

Where are we now?

Council has appointed LEKT Pty Ltd as the design consultant for the project. A feature survey of the project area has been completed, providing the detailed site information required for design development. With this groundwork in place, the design stage has now commenced, including analysis of traffic movements, parking behaviour, pedestrian activity, and existing infrastructure conditions.

What happens next?

LEKT Pty Ltd will now:

  • Review all background information provided by Council.
  • Undertake detailed site assessments and movement studies.
  • Develop concept options for Council review and feedback.
  • Prepare a final set of detailed design drawings and supporting documentation.

Construction is not included in this project. Any future works will be subject to separate funding and approval processes.