The Town of Gawler is committed to improving accessibility across the region and is pleased to announce the upcoming construction of a new disability parking bay adjacent the Gawler Civic Centre, outside 89–91 Murray Street.
Kent Civil has been appointed to undertake the works, with construction scheduled to commence on Monday 28 July 2025. Works are expected to be completed within two weeks.
To minimise disruption to local businesses and road users, the majority of construction will occur during night works between 7:00pm and 5:00am. During these times, the eastbound lane of Murray Street will be closed, with detours in place to guide traffic safely around the site.
Some works will take place during the day; however, Murray Street will remain open, with traffic restrictions in place to ensure safety while maintaining access through the town centre.
This project is a significant outcome of the Town of Gawler’s Disability Infrastructure Review, which identified the need for improved accessible parking options. Currently, there are no DDA-compliant parking bays along Murray Street. The introduction of this new bay will provide safer and more convenient access to the town centre for people with disabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The new DDA-compliant car park will be accessible for most passenger vans.
Yes. The car park will be suitable for people who use wheelchairs and will comply with DDA requirements set out in the Australian Standards. See image below.
Yes. The car park will connect flush with the footpath, allowing seamless access for wheelchairs. Bollards will also be installed to maintain a safe separation between vehicles and pedestrians. Cross section below shows the match-in.
Yes. This initiative has been driven by direct feedback from people with disabilities. There has been ongoing community input regarding the need for more DDA-compliant parking on Murray Street. This feedback has informed the review and final locations as recommended by transportation engineers within the Disability Infrastructure Review.
The process for installing a DDA-compliant car park is complex. It involves detailed design, procurement, and construction, and must meet strict standards. In this case, the project has taken approximately 6–8 months from initial design through to delivery.
Gawler’s Disability Infrastructure Review has identified the need for two (2) DDA-compliant car parking spaces along Murray Street. This recommendation aligns with the Building Code of Australia, which generally requires one accessible parking space for every 50–100 standard spaces. Council acknowledges, however, that the need for disability parking is not strictly numerically based, but on actual community demand. As such, Council is committed to ongoing reviews to ensure the provision of accessible parking continues to meet the needs of people with disabilities.