25/4/98
Transport Minister Eric Charlton today announced a new parking policy for central Perth.
The Perth Parking Policy will combine with the previously announced Perth Access Plan to preserve Perth's air quality, minimise traffic congestion and improve the amenity for pedestrians in the city.
For the first time, there will be a licence fee for commercial tenant parking bays. This brings commercial tenant parking fees into line with those paid by owners of public parking facilities. City residents will not be required to pay a fee for their residential bays.
"The policy will make parking in the city fairer," Mr Charlton said.
"The funds raised from the licence fee will be used to support and extend the very popular CAT system, which is used extensively by workers, shoppers and business people in the city.
"Business people who previously used their cars for short trips within the city are now using the CAT system.
"This has the dual benefit of improving air quality and freeing up valuable space in short term shopper car parks."
The new parking policy makes provision for agreement to be reached on a sustainable ceiling for the number of parking bays in the city. There will be no reduction in existing parking facilities; however, new limits will be placed on commercial tenant parking bays for new developments.
"The number of car bays in central Perth doubled from about 30,000 car bays in 1970 to more than 60,000 in early 1990s and a continuation of that trend is clearly unsustainable," the Minister said.
"These integrated transport plans achieve the correct balance between the central areas of environmental and economic health."
The policy will have effect in West Perth, East Perth and the central city including parts of Mounts Bay Road and Northbridge.
The current parking regulations require that all parking revenue collected by the City of Perth must be used for parking provision or related matters. The new policy will enable the Perth City Council to spend parking revenue on a range of community projects.
"The Perth Access Plan, released last October, will greatly improve access for everyone travelling to, from, within and around the city," Mr Charlton said.
"It received broad community support during the public consultation period and the detailed planning is now being developed, ready for implementation by the year 2000.
"It is a key element of the Governments strategy to preserve Perth's lifestyle by addressing traffic congestion, especially in morning and afternoon peaks, and improving public transport to make it a realistic alternative to the car.
"Perth's traffic does not yet cause significant problems but the warning signs have become unmistakeable.
"Two-thirds of people who work in the central city area commute by car, and 90 per cent of those cars carry only one person.
"The parking policy has been developed to integrate with the ‘Better Public Transport: Ten-Year Plan for Transperth', and the Perth Access Plan."
Media Contact. Chris Morris 9321 7333
