5000 car parks short today: How many by 2010? Author:Catherine Carter Date:06/09/2006 Publication: CityNews
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| A car parking crisis is developing in Canberra as available surface spaces across the CBD continue to shrink under the impact of new construction and as several large federal departments prepare to take up residency. Compounding this steady decline in available surface car parks are severe cuts to ACTION funding in the recent ACT Budget, compromising access to the city centre for its growing workforce as well as retail commuters. How can the additional thousands of public servants be accommodated if they are unable to drive into work and find a parking spot or catch a bus? These are the serious questions now facing the ACT Government as the city enters a new phase in the booming office market. However, the shortages are more immediate for some areas. Across City West the shortage of car parking is so acute that it will take at least two years for planned additional car parking to come on stream and be available for use. The crisis for City West will occur and be plainly apparent in about 12 months when new developments on the outside of London Circuit are completed. By this time next year we will have seen the relocation to the city centre of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, National ICT Australia plus other Commonwealth agencies, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The ACT Government has failed to respond to this car parking chaos. Possible cuts to ACTION services will mean that a major problem is going to arise in getting these new public servants to work. Not only was ACTIONs funding cut but it has been forced to reduce existing services. Bear in mind that ACTION is already at full capacity to meet demand during morning and afternoon peaks. There is a short-term solution, if the Government provides additional car parking at once around West Basin and around the base slab. To cope with expected demand in 12 months the government must release at least 1500 new car parks for City West. A similar problem, although not quite as drastic, is occurring in City East. The government must also release new parking capacity there to cater to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, and AusAID near the former YMCA site. The Australian Taxation Office buildings have already been re-let to cater for the continued expansion of the Australian public service. By any estimate, at least 4000 to 6000 additional public servants will be relocated to the city centre over the next three to four years. Motorists must have a choice in how they move in and out of the city, whether they are shoppers, business people or employees who commute in and out of the centre each day. The ACT Governments own figures show that around 75 per cent of Canberrans already commute each day by car. For the city centre to remain viable there should be at least two more sites suitable for multi-storey car parking structures released. Our research into parking shows a shortfall in supply versus demand, of 5976 spaces today. By 2010, this figure will be 7848. If the government accelerates the loss of parking and cuts ACTION services as well, just how bad can it get? Catherine Carter is Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia (ACT) |