Parking management refers to how parking bays are controlled through paid parking, time limits, and/or other regulations. The main reason for managing parking is to create more "turnover" of cars so that one car parking space can be used by as many cars as possible each day.
This allows motorists to more easily find a car bay (as one car is not parked in the space all day), assists local businesses by attracting customers and ensures maximum land use efficiency.
Car parking issues can’t be "solved", but they can be better managed. There are no quick fixes. But it is more effective, easier and cheaper to better manage parking rather than attempting to satisfy potential demand for free parking facilities.
The Parking Management Plans are required for the following reasons:
- Landowners, businesses, residents and visitors to the centres are concerned about parking issues in these areas
- Structure plans have been approved for Canning Bridge and the Riseley Centre, which provides more development potential and encourages an intensive mix of land uses
- Canning Highway is a key public transport route. The Department of Transport is investigating further improvements to public transport along the route. This may increase demand for park and ride options in the future
- If we fail to plan, we plan to fail!
We could, but it is extremely expensive for ratepayers and can create more issues to deal with. We know that:
- Increasing car parking supply will lead to more traffic in the local area.
- Too much car parking in an area can sometimes be as detrimental as too little car parking as parking areas have the potential to negatively affect the character, amenity and vibrancy of a place (for example - Osborne Park or Cannington).
- Car parking is not "free" as someone has to set aside land for, construct and maintain car parking areas.
- We all pay for "free "car parking through consumer prices, taxes or local government rates. We pay a high price for "free" parking.
- This means that people who do not drive effectively subsidise people who do drive and park for free.
- Car parking is very expensive, particularly off-street car parking as shown below -
Estimated Cost to Provice Car Parking in City of Melville Activity Centres
| Type of parking | Land per bay | Land Cost per m2 - $2,000 | Construction cost per bay | Estimated total cost per bay |
|---|
| On-street surface | 15m2 | $0 | $3,500 | $3,500 |
|---|
| Off-street surface | 35m2 | $70,000 | $3,500 | $73,500 |
|---|
| Deck - 2 Level | 16m2 | $32,000 | $31,000 | $63,000 |
|---|
| Deck - 4 Level | 8m2 | $16,000 | $34,000 | $50,000 |
|---|
| Basement - 2 Level | 8m2 | $16,000 | $44,000 | $60,000 |
|---|
Source: Luxmoore Parking and Safety 2013
- As a community, do we want to be spending $50,000 per car parking bay in a multi-deck car park?
- Could we be spending that money on better things?
- What kind of place do we want to create - a place for cars or a place for people?
- Popular places are usually perceived to have a lack of car parking – think of Fremantle, central Perth, Claremont, Leederville or Beaufort Street.
The research found that we do have enough parking overall. But some parking areas are very busy, while other parking areas a short walk away are empty.
We need to better manage parking so that it is used more efficiently and there are parking bays available for people who need them. This means we need to change though.
New developments will need to provide on-site car parking in accordance with the requirements of the local planning policy on parking and the Residential Design Codes. The parking to be provided in new developments will often be more than the parking provided in older developments.
The key questions for local businesses are:
- Do you want more car parking? Or
- Do you want more money in your till?
A lot of the existing car parking in the two centres is being occupied all day by the staff of local businesses. Whilst some staff will need to drive to the centre, having them parking in front of shops means that customers cannot park there. All-day staff parking is therefore costing businesses money!
We could be smarter about travel to and from work, which requires little money to be spent. One example is the large area of free, all-day car parking on Mitchell Street north of Shirley Strickland Reserve. Encouraging staff to use this parking area would free up car bays for more customers. One staff member vacating one car parking space in the centre could lead to another 8-9 customers being able to park at different times throughout the day.
The National Heart Foundation has prepared a great discussion paper that explores the benefits of creating walking and cycling friendly environments. The Good For Business shows the increased business and vitality provided by focussing on pedestrians.
The potential benefits for local businesses include:
- Increase business revenue by better managing parking (but not necessarily providing more car parking)
- Allow customers to access local business more easily
- Help inform and train staff to consider where they park/how to get to and from work
- Reduce parking frustrations and negative feedback
- Have a clear idea of what is going to happen
- Have opportunities to input in to and provide feedback on the Parking Management Plans
- The plans will help support appropriate redevelopment of private land (landowners)
Parking is already an issue. If we don’t change anything, the issues will likely get worse over time.
Canning Bridge and the Riseley Centre will change over time to be vibrant, busy and exciting places.
If we can better manage parking in the "activity centres", we can minimise potential issues for residents in quieter suburban streets.