Thank you for sharing your views on parklets in your community.

Community consultation was undertaken between January and June 2024, and included social mapping, an online survey and a public Q&A forum. The engagement sought feedback on the future role of parklets and on opportunities to activate underutilised road space across the city.

As part of Council's consultation and investigation into parklets and car park activation opportunities, a temporary parklet, on loan from another metropolitan council, was installed adjacent to the cafe, Feed, on Byron Street, Glenelg. This location was selected due to its low-speed traffic environment, proximity to a business capable of activating the space, and demonstrated demand for outdoor dining opportunities.

What we heard

• A total of 87 community members and two local businesses provided feedback through the online engagement process.
• Participants were invited to identify locations across the city where they would like to see parklets installed. In total, 31 locations were suggested, with Brighton receiving the highest level of interest, followed by Glenelg.
• There was strong community support for introducing parklets, with more than 70% of survey respondents backing the initiative.
• Participants recognised parklets as a valuable way to enhance local vibrancy, encourage social interaction, and provide additional public seating opportunities.
• Feedback also highlighted support for parklets as a means of supporting local businesses and increasing visitation and economic activity.
• Glenelg and Brighton emerged as the preferred locations for future parklet installations.
• The cafe, 'Feed', that trialled the parklet* advised that the parklet provided additional customer seating, contributed to street activation and complemented the surrounding streetscape.

* The parklet remained in place until mid-April 2026, enabling the cafe, Feed, to continue utilising the space as an extension of its outdoor dining area at no cost.

Overall, the engagement demonstrated broad community support for parklets as a tool to enhance public spaces, support local businesses and contribute to a more vibrant and activated streetscape.

Next Steps and Outcomes

Following the community consultation, a Parklets and Car Park Activation Policy was created and endorsed by Council on 23 June 2026. The policy establishes a clear and transparent framework for assessing, approving and managing proposals to temporarily repurpose on-street car parking spaces on Council-controlled land for public use.

The policy supports the creation of vibrant, people-focused public spaces by enabling parklets and other place-based activations that encourage community interaction, support local economic activity, and enhance streetscape amenity. A key principle of the policy is that any proposal must demonstrate a net public benefit that clearly outweighs the loss of on-street parking.

The policy distinguishes between two forms of activation:

• Parklets – the temporary conversion of one or more on-street parking spaces into a defined public space, typically incorporating seating, landscaping and other design features that support outdoor dining or passive recreational use.
• Car Park Activations – temporary or short-term uses of parking spaces for activities such as pop-up events, community initiatives or trial activations, generally involving minimal or no fixed infrastructure.

While both approaches repurpose car parking spaces to enhance the public realm, parklets are generally more structured and longer-term, whereas car park activations are typically more flexible, short-term, and activity-based.

The assessment of proposals is guided by the following principles:

• Public benefit
• Safety and risk management
• Accessibility and inclusion
• Amenity and place quality
• Adaptability of public space
• Applicant accountability.

Applications are assessed against a range of considerations, including traffic and parking impacts, pedestrian access and movement, surrounding land uses, safety outcomes, impacts on neighbouring properties, and alignment with Council’s strategic placemaking objectives.

The policy further clarifies that approvals are discretionary and considered on a case-by-case basis. Approval does not confer any ongoing right to occupy public land, and Council may impose conditions or refuse, suspend, vary or revoke an approval at any time where it is in the public interest to do so.

Successful applicants are responsible for the purchase, installation, maintenance, operation, safety, compliance and removal of the approved activation, including maintaining appropriate insurances and addressing any issues that may arise during the approval period.

Importantly, the policy incorporates a structured community engagement process to ensure that affected stakeholders, including adjacent residents and businesses, are informed and given an opportunity to provide feedback, particularly where proposals may affect local parking supply or access arrangements.