Chatswood Chase traders rally over centre plans to slash free parking rates with new 2-3 hour fees

A shopowner revolt has broken out at one of the biggest shopping centres in Sydney’s north over plans by the centre’s operator to slash the amount of time shoppers can park for free.

A shopkeeper revolt has broken out at one of the biggest shopping centres in Sydney’s north over contentious plans by the centre’s operators to slash free parking limits for its customers.

The amount of time shoppers at Chatswood Chase would be able to park for free would be scaled back from three to two hours in a move designed to get more customers through the centre doors and stop “non-centre” visitors hogging parking spaces.

The parking shake-up would include a new $3 charge for visitors staying between two to 2.5 hours and a $5 charge for visitors staying 2.5 to three hours.

Some businesses within Chatswood Chase have united against the plans – warning it could send shoppers to other centres including Westfield Chatswood, located just 200m from the site, where free three hour parking is in place

Inder Preet – who has run the Preet Indian restaurant at Chatswood Chase for almost a decade – said the two hour free parking limit was “not enough” time for most shoppers.

The charges have sparked a mixed response from traders.

“By the time people park their cars and shop, that can easily be two hours so it won’t leave enough time for people to do anything else or eat,” he said.

”If people have to start paying for parking they’ll either leave the centre or go to other centres where it’s free parking for longer.”

The centre currently has three hour free parking.

Owners of other businesses opposed to the plan including the Nextra Newsagency have raised concerns the charges could have a flow-on impact to businesses already struggling with increased operating and overhead costs.

The new charges would mean Chatswood Chase is the only major shopping centre on the north shore to introduce a two to three hour parking charge.

Chatswood Westfield, Hornsby Westfield, Top Ryde and the Macquarie Centre all offer three hour free parking rates.

Plans by Vicinity Centres – which operates Chatswood Chase – stated the two hour limit could free-up parking spaces at the centre by encouraging customers to “reduce their duration of stay” or “shift their mode of travel” to walking, cycling, or public transport.

The changes are designed to free-up more parking spaces.

It is understood the company is also considering a “rewards program” that would grant residents of the local Willoughby Council area with three hours of free parking, but only for cars entering via Archer St.

Willoughby Council has raised concerns that the charges could lead to more congestion on surrounding streets and “higher levels of vehicles queuing particularly during peak shopping periods.”

The council’s deputy mayor Angelo Rozos labelled the move a “cash grab”.

Willoughby Deputy Mayor Angelo Rozos.

“It’s very disappointing for the community and it’s not how you want to be treating paying customers,” he said.

The parking change is the latest shake-up for the centre which is currently undergoing a major multistorey redevelopment.

Once the works are completed, the number of carparking spaces is expected to increase by 84 spaces to 2349 spaces.

Vicinity Centres plans to roll out the changes in April next year, coinciding with the introduction of a new ticketless parking system.

In a statement, Chatswood Chase centre manager Eddie Paynter said the parking changes “reflect our vision to transform Chatswood Chase into a modern and iconic destination”.

“By harmonising our carparking policies with the surrounding areas, we aim to ensure efficient and easy access for our genuine shoppers, and parking space turnover to support our retailers, ultimately enhancing the overall shopping experience,” he said.