Parking levy denied Author: By JASON GORDON Civic Reporter Date: 07/11/2006 Publication: Newcastle Herald
STATE Transport Minister John Watkins has denied claims that the State Government was secretly planning to introduce a parking levy in Newcastle's central business district.
Rumours of the levy surfaced last week but were dismissed by the minister following inquiries from The Herald.
But Greens candidate for Newcastle Michael Osborne yesterday issued a press release saying that documents obtained under freedom of information showed the Government was intent on introducing the controversial levy.
The Herald has copies of these documents and they do not appear to show this.
The documents comprise details of a submission from the Lower Hunter Transport Working Group which, among many recommendations, suggested that the levy could be introduced to encouraging people to use public transport and raising funds to upgrade associated infrastructure.
Under the parking space levy that operates in some Sydney areas, providers of commercial parking areas pay an annual $450 fee for each parking space they provide. Money collected pays for public transport infrastructure.
On Friday Mr Watkins said there was "no current plan to introduce a parking space levy in Newcastle".
Mr Osborne pounced on the word "current", but the minister and ALP candidate for Newcastle Jodi McKay said late yesterday that "there is no plan, full stop".
The minister was backed up by Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate, an independent candidate in the state election race in Newcastle, who was on the Lower Hunter Transport Working Group when it made its recommendation.
"The levy was talked about as a trade-off for a better public transport system in Newcastle," Cr Tate said.
"But it was only a suggestion to the State Government at a time when the decision had been made to close the rail line.
"That decision has been overturned, so the report means nothing any more we've all moved on."