Glenelg cinema carpark free parking to be doubled from one hour to two after campaign from Jetty Rd traders

A COUNCIL in Adelaide’s west has eased parking restrictions for a new carpark at a popular beachside location — allowing visitors to stay for two hours for free and capping the maximum fee charged.

The Glenelg cinema and Partridge St carpark.

• $550k boomgates to put end to free parking at Glenelg’s big council-run carpark
• New $17m Glenelg cinema won’t be open this summer after three-month delay
• Shoppers shun paid parks at Glenelg, driving $260,000 drop in parking revenue

GLENELG traders have welcomed a council backflip on parking fees planned for Partridge St, which they thought would drive customers away from the Bay.

Holdfast Bay Council has decided to allow shoppers to park at its revamped Partridge St carparks for two hours for free, instead of the planned one-hour free period.

Councillors last week voted to charge $2 for the third hour at the 350-space carparks, $3 for the fourth hour and then $5 each hour after that to a maximum of $30.

The system at the two Patridge St carparks will come into effect in a fortnight, ahead of the opening of a new cinema.

Cr Amanda Wilson said the council needed to recover the $3 million it had contributed towards the carpark and ticketing system, but added the revamps happened to help businesses on Jetty Rd, not raise money.

“It would be a total fail of council if this resulted in a drop in trade,” Cr Wilson said.

Work is almost complete on the Glenelg cinema carpark.

Jetty Road Mainstreet Committee chairman Mark Faulkner had been pushing for the first three hours to be free at the lots, but said traders would settle with two.

“We’re definitely happy with two instead of one because one was ludicrous,” Mr Faulkner said.

Parking in the carpark will be free from 9pm to 9am and cinema patrons will not have to pay for the first four hours.

A ticketing machine will take a photo of cars’ numberplates as they enter the carpark.

People will then enter their plate number in a machine and pay the fee to be let out through boomgates.

Drivers who park for less than two hours will be let out automatically.

Stephen Howard, PR director for cinema operator Event Hospitality and Entertainment, said there was still no confirmed date for the cinema’s opening.

The company has previously said it would open in December and then March.

What do you think of the plans for the new carparks? Leave your comment below.