A CUNNING PLAN to let Melbourne commuters hire empty carparks on the interweb might be sunk by red tape. The site, www.findacarpark.com, has been going great guns since it was set up a few weeks ago.
Saves time, but is it legal?By Nick Farrell: Monday 18 April 2005, 07:30
The site, www.findacarpark.com, has been going great guns since it was set up a few weeks ago.
The big idea is that property owners with room to park cars during the day can advertise them for rent on the site. The parks include a mixture of private driveways and car spaces in flats and go for between $80 a month, and as much as $500.
But, the Mayor of the City of Yarra, which is a bit of Melbourne, Kay Meadows, told the Aussie press here, that the scheme appeared to be in breach of the council's planning code.
Apparently you are not allowed to hire out your driveway or spare carpark without the blessing of the council.
This can only be done if you apply for a town planning application that has to be filled in in triplicate, lost, found, buried in soft peat for three years and finally recycled as firelighters*.
The fact that this move suddenly gives Melbourne city council thousands of extra car parks that it didnt have before, does not seem to matter.