Parking costs rise stalled The Mercury MICHELLE PAINE
May 13, 2008 12:00am
A CONTROVERSIAL move to ramp up city car-parking fees has been delayed as aldermen struggle with conflicting pressures.
Last night Hobart City Council voted to examine the issue further.
City shop owners reacted angrily last week to a proposal to raise car-parking fees substantially, especially with big-box retail developments unfolding at Cambridge and shopping centres being improved at Kingston.
They feared the move could be the final nail in the coffin of city retailers trying to compete with suburban shopping centres.
But the council heard commuters were increasingly using cheap city parking provided for shoppers, and resultant slowdown in turnover was upsetting shop owners.
Mayor Rob Valentine said city parkers regularly removed their car from council car parks, drove around the block and returned to save money. That way they paid less.
It saved some city workers thousands of dollars a year.
Ald Darlene Haigh said the council had to "tread very softly".
"The CBD is our lifeblood. I have concerns about the second hour (of parking) free. Commuters drive out and around. It's a trap," Ald Haigh said.
She said the new direct factory outlets and downsizing of Myer had coincided at a bad time.
About 1200 new car parking spaces would be built within two years.
Deputy Mayor Eva Ruzicka said it was a dilemma.
Workers in the city were taking up space for shoppers, but many workers spent money in the city too.
"There is a two-year gap before more commercial parking comes on board. There is an impact on small shops. There is a bunch of free riders who every time we put up fees, scream," Ald Ruzicka said.
Ald Valentine said the issue was complex because of competing demands such as shopper and resident amenity, outside pressures and turnover.
"We know commuters are driving out, doing circles and coming back again. But if they didn't do that, what are they going to do?" he said.
About 80 per cent of shoppers left in under three hours, so a lower or no fee for two hours might be a solution, with higher fees for longer stays.
That would still be cheaper than permanent car spaces for commuters.
Ald Philip Cocker said the issue seemed trivial. He said the council should be more interested in the quality of experience offered by the city, and parking was only one factor.
Ald Ron Christie floated the idea of a moratorium on car park and meter rises, one of many ideas to be considered by council in coming weeks.