Hundreds hopeful for layout change to Geraldton Homemaker Centre car park as Main Roads flags redesign

A local mother has called for changes to the “absolute nightmare” that is the Geraldton Homemaker Centre car park amid frustrations with McDonald’s drive-thru traffic spilling on to the highway. But Main Roads has flagged they are working towards a solution to the problem. Ali Constable started a petition on July 18, voicing her own concerns about dropping her child at the centre for work while being met with a stationary line of cars preventing people from entering the car park. To date, more than 300 people have signed the change.org petition. The owners of a paint business formerly located in the centre said: ”Our business was at its busiest at 7am to 9am when the tradies came in and collected their paint for the days’ work. They would not be able to get to us due to this problem.” The owners of the paint business allege Main Roads did not approve of two entry and exit points, which would relieve some traffic from the highway. A Main Roads spokesperson said they had been working with the City of Greater Geraldton and a commercial developer to propose an expansion of the centre, including access requirements, since 2021. The current proposal for the centre includes upgrading existing access points on North West Coastal Highway, and a new access point on Place Road, via Cassin Place. “Upgrades to the existing access point on North West Coastal Highway include construction of a dedicated left-in turning lane. Design work for this upgrade is under way by Main Roads, to help inform a cost estimate,” the spokesperson said. Main Roads said Place Road and Cassin Road were under local control from the City, and access to the centre on these roads would be a matter for the council to consider. About the time McDonald’s opened in 2011, businesses were quoted as saying they did not think parking would be an issue as everything had been “compensated for”. In the petition, Ms Constable wrote: “I am forced to pull out of the line and drive towards the pedestrian crossing on the wrong side of the road, but people have blocked the gap that would enable me to turn left. It is an absolute nightmare to negotiate and I am not alone in this sentiment.” The centre belonged to Sentinel Property, but was sold in 2021 to Harvey Norman Holdings. Harvey Norman has been contacted for comment.