New operator to slash parking fees

A new operator has secured its first car park in Brisbane and the “game changing” model will offer motorists a $10 a day flat rate in one of the world’s most expensive parking cities.

A start-up company is promising to slash carparking charges in the Brisbane CBD to $10 a day.

First Parking managing director Daniel Hitchcock described the flat rate model as a “game changer” for CBD parking.

“For city office workers hesitant to use public transport, lower cost parking will be appealing,” he said.

First Parking has completed lease deals for two parking stations — one at 67 Astor Terrace in Spring Hill and another in Sydney — with other deals in the pipeline.

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Mr Hitchcock, who is the co-owner of First Parking in partnership with Sentinel Property Group chief executive Stacey Jones, said motorists in Brisbane and Sydney dealt with some of the most expensive carparking charges in the world.

“In a recent analysis of parking prices in 65 cities worldwide by UK car maintenance company Fixer, New York, Boston and Sydney claimed the top three spots followed by London and Brisbane,” he said.

“This comes after Parkopedia’s 2019 Global Parking Index report placed Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne among the top five cities with the most expensive two-hour off-street parking in the world.

“Motorists in the Brisbane CBD pay the highest short-term off-street parking rates in Australia at an average of $31.41 an hour, which the RACQ has described as ‘highway robbery’.”

First Parking managing director Daniel Hitchcock at 67 Astor Terrace, Spring Hill.

Owned by H.A. Bachrach Group six-level 228-bay car park at 67 Astor Terrace was previously occupied by Secure Parking.

Mr Hitchcock, who has almost 15 years experience in the industry, said First Parking works with landlords and building managers to better use and maximise the value of their parking assets.

“We have the mantra of working on the turnover of bays rather than motorists copping a maximum charge,” he said

“It doesn’t matter if you are there for $15 minutes or 10 hours — it’s all the same.”

First Parking’s other car park is at Meriton’s building at 329 Pitt Street, Sydney