Car parking - solutions?

[dwb]

What I find interesting is that developers are more often than not ahead of the curve at least in the CBD, however parking regulations, and the enforcement above that, means more parking is provided. Less regulation may actually enable savy developers to provide less carparking, than say regulation would.

[somebody]

What I find interesting is that developers are more often than not ahead of the curve at least in the CBD, however parking regulations, and the enforcement above that, means more parking is provided. Less regulation may actually enable savy developers to provide less carparking, than say regulation would.

Quirky has mentioned a few times that he has required developers to provide more parking than what they wanted to.

[ozbob]

The wet weather causes more than a few problems for the overstressed park n' ride overflows on road verges ...

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Brisbane in top 10 world-wide

Brisbane in top 10 world-wide

    by: Reshni Ratnam
    From: Quest Newspapers
    January 26, 2012 12:00AM

THE cost of parking in Brisbane's CBD has risen by almost 10 percent each year proving a costly affair for commuters.

Co-creator of the website and app CarParking.info, Gerard McLennnan, said an increase in property prices was to blame for parking costs around town.

He said Brisbane commuters had shown great interest in the website, established three years ago, which found and compared the cost of carparks across the country.

"We've got 200,000 followers utilising this technology via an app on android and iPhones," Mr McLennan said.

"People want to know about Early Bird parking, flat rates and sort through the cheapest and closest parking available.

"Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are on the top 10 list globally when it comes to the most expensive for short term parking."

Mr McLennan said feedback showed a lot of people commute from the Gold Coast to Brisbane and were in need of long-term parking.

"Prices are always going up and down, but over time we've found prices increase around five to 10 per cent," he said.

"Brisbane is definitely up there when looking at the average nine hour rate for Sydney ($66.36), Melbourne ($51.92) and Brisbane ($62.22) as at January 23."

But in a statement to City News, Secure Parking's Kylie Park defended Brisbane's parking rates.

"Very few people actually pay the rack rate," Ms Park said.

"The majority of our customers are being charged at a far reduced rate such as Early Bird, monthly parking or weekend and evening special rates.

"As you can see, the message is clear - plan before you park. There are lots of low cost parking options available beyond the standard casual rate," Ms Park said.

However Mr McLennan said their research had found a correlation between density of commercial and residential premises and the price of parking.

"This is similar in Brisbane where the most expensive places to park are around the dense areas of the CBD, including Eagle St Pier," he said.

[SurfRail]

[#Metro]

I think it is misleading.

Plenty of cheap parking if you step *just* outside the CBD.

$23 for early bird rate - now just imagine if PT were so good you could charge $23 for it?

[dwb]

I think it is misleading.

Plenty of cheap parking if you step *just* outside the CBD.

$23 for early bird rate - now just imagine if PT were so good you could charge $23 for it?

I just met someone who works for Suncorp and pays for a parking spot in the city (in one of suncorp's buildings) at $7000 per year... that is about $30 per day.

[Mr X]

I've heard about some people getting free carparking as a "bonus" haha

If you want to make a lot of money, build a car park in the city! Assuming you already have land, build 1000 spaces @ $30,000 a space, rent them out at $5000 a year each and after 6 years, you've paid off your original investment and can earn a nice $5mil a year!

If only life was so easy  

[dwb]

I've heard about some people getting free carparking as a "bonus" haha

If you want to make a lot of money, build a car park in the city! Assuming you already have land, build 1000 spaces @ $30,000 a space, rent them out at $5000 a year each and after 6 years, you've paid off your original investment and can earn a nice $5mil a year!

If only life was so easy  

That is a big assumption... not to mention assuming you've got approval. Also, I'd think you'd get higher rental returns for commercial office space or apartments really...

[somebody]

I've heard about some people getting free carparking as a "bonus" haha

If you want to make a lot of money, build a car park in the city! Assuming you already have land, build 1000 spaces @ $30,000 a space, rent them out at $5000 a year each and after 6 years, you've paid off your original investment and can earn a nice $5mil a year!

If only life was so easy  

Your investment would be in constant peril from improved public transport to the CBD reducing demand for CBD parking.

[Jonno]

I've heard about some people getting free carparking as a "bonus" haha

If you want to make a lot of money, build a car park in the city! Assuming you already have land, build 1000 spaces @ $30,000 a space, rent them out at $5000 a year each and after 6 years, you've paid off your original investment and can earn a nice $5mil a year!

If only life was so easy 

Your investment would be in constant peril from improved public transport to the CBD reducing demand for CBD parking.

...not to mentuion Peak Oil/Rampant Demand and congestion.

[SurfRail]

Some people do let their spaces out in town for greater return that what you would get on a suburban home.  (This is generally a development offence though.)

[somebody]

Some people do let their spaces out in town for greater return that what you would get on a suburban home.  (This is generally a development offence though.)

Offence?  Do you mean illegal, or just poor development options?

[SurfRail]

Some people do let their spaces out in town for greater return that what you would get on a suburban home.  (This is generally a development offence though.)

Offence?  Do you mean illegal, or just poor development options?

No, actually illegal (as in get prosecuted and fined).  Usually it is a breach of the DA for the building, but there might be some cases where it is not - it would be case-specific.

[Golliwog]

I don't know Simon, there are always going to be people who refuse to use public transport, as they simply must drive everywhere in their fancy new sports car. Plus, you will always have the people filling spare capacity on the roads, even if PT is awesome.

[somebody]

People like that in Sydney are generally considered to be nut jobs.  Probably that applies even more in London.  The challenge is improving PT in Brisbane to this level.

[Jonno]

I don't know Simon, there are always going to be people who refuse to use public transport, as they simply must drive everywhere in their fancy new sports car. Plus, you will always have the people filling spare capacity on the roads, even if PT is awesome.

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7572.msg85671#msg85671

[Golliwog]

People like that in Sydney are generally considered to be nut jobs.  Probably that applies even more in London.  The challenge is improving PT in Brisbane to this level.

Well going by the conversations at my work, they're already considered people who have a stupid amount of money to waste on parking.

[somebody]

People like that in Sydney are generally considered to be nut jobs.  Probably that applies even more in London.  The challenge is improving PT in Brisbane to this level.

Well going by the conversations at my work, they're already considered people who have a stupid amount of money to waste on parking.

In Sydney it's not so much that.  It's more like that they enjoy wasting much time sitting in traffic.  Even those that have the stupid amount of money to spend on parking don't drive.

[O_128]

People like that in Sydney are generally considered to be nut jobs.  Probably that applies even more in London.  The challenge is improving PT in Brisbane to this level.

Well going by the conversations at my work, they're already considered people who have a stupid amount of money to waste on parking.

In Sydney it's not so much that.  It's more like that they enjoy wasting much time sitting in traffic.  Even those that have the stupid amount of money to spend on parking don't drive.

Agreed, People in brisbane obviously have no value of there time. It takes a friend about 95 min to drive up from helensvale in the morning, pretty stupid when the train takes 70

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Carindale park'n'ride plan given reprieve

Carindale park'n'ride plan given reprieve
Bridie Jabour
February 6, 2012 - 3:33PM

A park'n'ride facility near Carindale Shopping Centre may yet go ahead after Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk agreed to facilitate discussions on the project, a month after rejecting two petitions on the issue.

However the potential project won't progress until the state government and Brisbane City Council resolve the issue of whose responsibility it is to fund it.

Westfield Carindale Westfield shopping centre is due to introduce paid parking next month ahead of a large centre expansion.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Earlier last month Ms Palaszczuk formally rejected two petitions organised by Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner demanding a park'n'ride near Westfield Carindale, saying it was against government policy.

"Translink does not generally support developing new park'n'ride facilities in locations less than one kilometre from shopping centres such as Carindale, where there is heavy traffic and customers have access to a high number of local feeder buses," she wrote to petitioners.

The state government also has a policy of not allowing park 'n' rides within 10km of the city, a policy that LNP leader Campbell Newman has promised to review if he takes office.

But Ms Palaszczuk sent a letter to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk late last month saying she would be happy to "facilitate" discussions between the Brisbane City Council and Translink to build a park'n'ride on the corner of Creek and Old Cleveland roads.

In a letter Cr Quirk's office said he received on January 27, Ms Palaszczuk said she had been advised the site was being used as a "car park by workers on the upgrade to the Carindale Westfield".

"I am further advised that this is council-owned land and that any decision to allow it to be used as a park'n'ride facility is a matter for council," she said.

"As I have indicated publicly, if the Brisbane City Council wishes to pursue the option of turning the Carindale site in to a park'n'ride, I would be happy to facilitate discussions between Council and Translink Authority to investigate the provision of necessary infrastructure to create a Translink park'n'ride on the site.

"I look forward to hearing from you whether Council is amendable to providing this land so that TransLink can establish a park'n'ride."

Today, Ms Palaszczuk told brisbanetimes.com.au she had "not changed her mind" when it came to the park'n'ride.

"It is Cr Schrinner who has finally accepted that this parcel of land proposed by the Brisbane City Council for a park'n'ride at Carindale is of course owned by the Brisbane City Council," she said.

"His attempt to spin otherwise is another attempt by him at playing politics rather getting on with the job.

"It is clearly therefore up to the Council to fund this facility to allow Translink to build it."

In his letter of reply to the Transport Minister, Cr Quirk said he welcomed her "change of heart" but disputed that the land belonged to council.

"I am advised that this is Crown land held in trust by council," he said.

"This is highlighted in Translink documents associated with the proposed Eastern Busway which refer to the land as being "government owned".

"...Once again I welcome the state government's decision to change its position on a park'n'ride facility at Carindale and look forward to working with the Government to ensure it is delivered as soon as possible."

Last year, Labor came under pressure to allow park 'n' rides within 10km of the CBD after commuters choked streets around Westfield Chermside following the introduction of paid parking in October.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/carindale-parknride-plan-given-reprieve-20120206-1r1bc.html

[ozbob]

Checked out Darra and parking around the rail station today. Completely parked out, all the way up to Harcourt Road as well.

It is heavier than it has ever been.  Richlands is being swamped as well, I suppose the 535 will help a little.

Wacol, and Goodna are always full these days, Gailes is providing a relief valve.

[SurfRail]

It is really surprising just how woeful the feeder buses to Darra and Oxley are. 

[somebody]

It is really surprising just how woeful the feeder buses to Darra and Oxley are. 

Indeed.  But equally surprising is how poor the counter peak services to Ipswich which they would largely be feeding.

[ozbob]

From the Bendigo Advertiser click here

Bendigo developers could face hefty fees for car parking

Bendigo developers could face hefty fees for car parking
BRETT WORTHINGTON
01 Mar, 2012 04:00 AM

DEVELOPERS unable to meet car parking requirements could face having to pay tens of thousands of dollars for their projects to proceed.

The City of Greater Bendigo last night endorsed a planning scheme amendment to change its car parking requirements.

Councillors supported reducing the amount of car parks developers have to provide for their projects.

Shops currently have to supply eight car parks per 100 square metre of leasable floor area.

The new requirements would reduce the required rate to 3.5 parks, while restricted retail outlets with bulky goods would have to supply 1.5 spaces instead of eight.

Cafe requirements would fall from 0.6 to 0.1, supermarkets and department stores eight parks to four and take-away restaurants would have to supply 2.5 spaces.

The changes would allow the council to impose a $10,000 fee per car park developers were unable to provide.

The council would spend the money on future off-site parking or sustainable transport infrastructure for cycling and walking.

Cr Bruce Phillips described the existing car parking requirements as "at best a joke and at worst a shambles". He said he had long campaigned against car park waivers but reform of the "flawed" requirements was crucial.

Cr Rod Campbell said car parking requirements had been a "thorn in the side" of council for years.

He said the council needed to invest more in sustainable transport infrastructure and encourage more walking and cycling in the CBD.

Councillors Alec Sandner and James Reade declared conflicts of interest and left the council chamber during the debate and vote.

The council will seek permission from Planning Minister Matthew Guy before exhibiting the amendment for six weeks.

The council will also implement a community engagement plan before exhibiting the amendment.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Coaches and limousines to be charged for parking by the minute at Brisbane Airport

[ozbob]

From Couriermail Quest click here!

Dollars for park 'n' ride for Chermside on council land

Dollars for park 'n' ride for Chermside on council land

   by: Rowena Smith, Northside Chronicle
   From: Quest Newspapers
   March 06, 2012 3:18PM

A State Government proposal to give a $1 million grant to Brisbane City Council to establish park `n' rides at Chermside and Carindale has been labelled an "absolute joke'' by deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner.

Premier Anna Bligh said today park 'n' ride facilities could be built at Marchant Park "without the loss of existing open space''

She announced the $1 million cash offer as part of a $137 million spend on public transport station upgrades over the next three years.

"We will (sic) work with Brisbane City Council to deliver new park 'n' rides on council-owned sites at Chermside and Carindale,'' Ms Bligh said.

"At Chermside, there is an opportunity to provide park 'n' ride facilities at Marchant Park, without loss of existing open space.''

The Premier's department indicated existing parking along the Murphy Rd and Ellison Rd sides of the park could be converted to park 'n' ride spaces weekdays, although it did not identify how many vehicles could be accommodated.

However, Councillor Schrinner said Ms Bligh was making a political move on the eve of a state election.

"If Anna Bligh was really serious about fixing this problem she would build these park 'n' rides herself, as the State Government has always done, not wash her hands of the issue.

". . . all it does is confirm that Labor are more than happy to destroy trees and heritage listed green space in a cheap attempt to win votes,'' he said.

Council wants the State Government to explore another option - land along Kittyhawk Drive behind Westfield Chermside, which Cr Shrinner said developers had already offered for "exactly this purpose''.

Both sides of politics have recognised the need for a park 'n' ride  the Chermside bus interchange is used by 5000 commuters every day.

However, so far legitimate progress has been bogged down in apolitical blame game on whichlevel of government is responsible, and where it should go.

Council was unable to say whether it would accept the State Government's $1m if Labor wins on March 24.

If council does not accept it, the money will be redirected to other commuter parking projects.

The grant is part of a $137million package announced by Labor to give commuters a smoother ride on public transport. It included 159 new commuter carparks at Bald Hills.

Engineers are already designing more car parks at Zillmere.

Cr Schrinner said by the state government's own estimates, each park n ride car space costs $10,000.

"So $500,000 would equate to only 50 spaces (at Chermside).

[#Metro]

Under my estimates they would get 20-30 car parks for that $$.
USELESS.

A bus seats 65 people. For $1 million they could buy one new bus and have double the number of people, depending on how many times it ran during peak hour.

[Jonno]

The cycle continues...

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7811.0

[somebody]

Did we say anything about the ALP back flipping on their sound policy of no park and rides within 10km of the CBD?

[Gazza]

Time to re release our P+R and feeder media release?

[Golliwog]

I'm not exactly convinced if its a back flip though. It got the council to point out in the public sphere that the million bucks is only going to provide 50 car parks, and the council doesn't look like they'll be accepting it.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Westfield Chermside reaping profits from paid parking but retailers claim customers are put off

[somebody]

Couriermail --> Westfield Chermside reaping profits from paid parking but retailers claim customers are put off

$600k in 3 months is next to nothing.  The question is does making it easier to park bring in more shoppers than are deterred (allegedly) by the parking charges.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Not really. Still a massive load of window shoppers from what I've seen.

[ozbob]

Protest at Carindale today re plans to introduce paid parking.

--> http://t.co/6nn8g9h8

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Union to fight paid parking at shopping centre

Union to fight paid parking at shopping centre
March 29, 2012 - 10:56AM

A retail union is leading the fight against plans by Westfield to charge customers and staff to park at a major Brisbane shopping centre, after the retail giant introduced the fee at another complex last year.

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employee's Association state secretary Chris Ketter said Westfield stands to reap more than $2 million per year by charging staff to park at Carindale Shopping Centre in Brisbane's south, but have so far refused to tell the 1000-plus centre employees exactly when the fee will be introduced.

The association has lobbied Fair Work Australia to amend the General Retail Industry Award 2010, to ensure workers are reimbursed by their employer if forced to pay to park at work.

However, the move will likely see independent businesses already paying high rents to occupy space in shopping centres slugged with further costs, rather than Westfield.

"While some might say retailers are doing it tough, there no doubt Queensland's 100,000-plus retail army are going it tougher," Mr Ketter said.

He said he hoped changes to the award would deter Westfield from introducing paid parking at the Carindale centre, although the shopping centre giant reportedly stands to gain about $6000 per day from the scheme.

Carindale staff will be charged a $3 flat daily rate to park at a designated car park, after the opening of a newly renovated section of the shopping centre.

However, those unable to secure a park in the designated area for staff could be forced to pay up to $20 each day to park in the public area. Staff will also be charged $15 for a swipe card and $10 for an replacement cards required.

Westfield began charging customers and staff to park at Chermside Shopping Centre in Brisbane's inner-north late last year, claiming the initiative was designed to stop commuters who use the bus interchange alongside the centre taking parking spaces needed by shoppers.

Customers are only charged for parking longer than three hours at the centre, although Westfield has estimated that 96 per cent of customers spend less than that amount of time shopping.

According to Westfield, the parking fee is also designed to support the running of a parking guidance system, which direct customers to vacant car spaces and is installed at both Chermside and Carindale centres.

Staff parking at Chermside is believed to have generated more than $400,000 for Westfield since it was introduced on October 25.

In addition, 300,000 Westfield parking fines had generated a further $600,000, Mr Ketter said.

The association requested changes to the industry award from Fair Work Australian on March 8.

"If successful, these change could see retailers forced to absorb the cost of parking at all Australian centres that insist on charging staff," Mr Ketter said.

"Given Westfield's refusal to reverse paid parking, and the likelihood it will continue to introduce the initiative throughout southeast Queensland and Australia, we have no choice but to involve retailers.

"We hope this move will not only protect retail workers on award wages, but put pressure on Westfield to stop rolling out paid parking and mining award wage workers for millions."

The association will today hand over a paid parking petition to Brisbane City Council lord mayoral candidate Ray Smith, following the opening of phase one of Westfield Carindale's new $300 million redevelopment today.

The redevelopment includes a new two-level mall and more than 110 new shops over 22,000 square metres of additional retail space.

Westfield Chermside and Carindale are believed to have 6200 and 550 car parks respectively, with an estimated 1000 staff car parks at each centre.

Mr Ketter said he feared paid parking will soon be introduced at Westfield Garden City in Mt Gravatt and Strathpine, North Lakes and Helensvale.

In 2008, Westfield sought council approval to install boom gates and charge anyone using its carparks for more than three hours. But the council rejected the proposal 12 months later.

As owner of the land at Chermside, however, Westfield can introduce paid parking on its site without the green light from council.

Comment is being sought from Westfield.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/union-to-fight-paid-parking-at-shopping-centre-20120329-1vzt9.html

[Gazza]

The association has lobbied Fair Work Australia to amend the General Retail Industry Award 2010, to ensure workers are reimbursed by their employer if forced to pay to park at work.

That's stupid though....So what about the thousands working in retail in the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane CBD etc? In effect it means you'd have to have enough free spaces in the CBDs for all of them. Massive cost!

[Mr X]

How I get to work is none of my employer's concern and hence I don't see why we should force them to pay.

The retail sector is struggling enough as it is, making them pay employee parking fees won't help it one iota.

[#Metro]

Carparks are a space
Space costs money
There is demand for that space

It is easy to trot out the force argument, but in reality, that space represents forgone revenue if it is made free.
So what the current situation is really this: The centre has been forced to make losses on that carpark which represents a back door benefit
to the employees. Now that back door benefit is going to be removed, the employees (understandably don't like it).

People who come in on PT and bikes don't take up space at their destination. Cars *DO*.

Now, there is nothing "right" or "wrong" about this. When I went to work in the city, there wasn't parking, I had to ride a bike or get the first bus in.

So what's the solution? Some people will need parking more than others - some people the car is essential, others it is a convenience. There could be a differential
charge or a free staff car park. Up to westfield to decide.

In fact, it would be better for the SDA to argue that its members should be exempt from paid parking, or be subject to a different fee, while charging everyone else
for parking.