THE South Perth Esplanade’s first hour free parking initiative may be discontinued from June 30 if City of South Perth councillors vote to support officers’ recommendations on May 29 council meeting.
The first hour free parking trial introduced in 2017 along the Esplanade from Harper Terrace to Queen Street, followed a petition from local residents.
The petition sought to attract more visitors to the Mends Street Precinct while also providing locals with a free parking option as construction vehicles for developments within the area, blocked residential street parking between 7am and 6pm.
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READ NOWThe City’s report recommending the initiative be revoked states there has been “a recorded decrease of 33 per cent in paid tickets issued” at the carparks, which has resulted in a revenue loss of about $138,000.
The report also suggested visitors to the area have in part “misused the council’s initiative by obtaining another free one hour ticket upon expiry of their first”, which too contributed to the revenue loss.
But, at its March 2017 meeting councillors did note the proposed introduction of the parking initiate could result in about a $150,000 revenue loss per annum.
South Perth resident Julius SolomonsOK said to propose discontinuing the free one hour parking along the Esplanade while construction was still causing residential parking issues as well as contributing to the decline of activation to the area, at least until the works were complete, was yet another a kick in the teeth.
“Revenue loss may well be an issue but we need to look for a compromise,” he said.
“Retail is very quite, we acknowledge that but it is because these developments are taking place.
“We would have no problem if the one hour free parking was removed from Harper Terrace down the Esplanade, from Monday to Friday, providing the two parking bays at the bottom of Mends Street, which are about 60 bays, be left for residents use while Harper Street is closed permanently.”
Parking in Mends Street Precinct
South Perth Esplanade riverside from Queen Street – On-street ‘pay as you use’ North/west Mends Street to Queen Street – Time limit no fee Mends Street – Time restricted no fee Ray Street – Free one hour South Shore Centre – First hour free Windsor Hotel carpark – Paid
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