Parking fees at shops’ carparks should rise: GTA Consultants
Motorists would pay for street parking at some north shore shopping strips, and carpark charges would rise, under a proposal to raise parking fees.
Motorists would pay for street parking at some north shore shopping strips, and carpark charges would rise, under a proposal to raise parking fees.
Motorists who visit Gordon, Lindfield, Pymble, Roseville, St Ives and Turramurra could see greater costs if Ku-ring-gai Council accepts the proposal.
The council commissioned a study investigating paid parking as a way of better managing demand, traffic flow and revenue.
The study recommends street parking in town centres be charged at $2.50 per hour.
The council’s town centre carparks would continue to provide the first two hours free.
Motorists who wished to stay longer could pay $10 for a maximum four hours, according to GTA Consultants, with a higher rate for the fourth hour (ie $6) to encourage turnover.
Ku-ring-gai Chamber of Commerce president Peter Vickers was concerned by the proposal.
“No-one likes paid parking,” he said.
He said people chose to shop in Ku-ring-gai because it was more convenient than travelling to shopping centres at Chatswood and Hornsby.
He feared how shoppers might respond if parking became costly.
“They will find a place to park in the street to avoid paying parking fees, or they won’t shop there,” he said.
The additional revenue could be used for town centre or transport improvements.
Paid parking is also easier to enforce for rangers than timed parking.
Mayor Jennifer Anderson said the draft Parking Management Strategy was essential as the population continued to grow.
“We will be discussing the strategy with local businesses as well as listening to residents’ views before the council makes a decision on implementation,” she said.
The strategy is available for comment on the council’s website until December 13.
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