Doug Harman at Flora Terrace.
Camera IconDoug Harman at Flora Terrace. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Issue hard to keep at bay

Kate LeaverStirling Times

Trigg, North Beach and Waterman’s Bay Association president Doug Harman said the Flora Terrace local centre was growing in popularity but many new developments had a shortfall of parking bays.

“On the weekend you get people parking on the footpaths, so we have to call the rangers,” Mr Harman said.

“The parking is becoming an issue; even on a quiet weekday morning every bay is full.”

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The City of Stirling recently passed a motion from Councillor Karen Caddy to investigate parking issues and solutions at the Flora Terrace centre.

Cr Caddy said the City needed to take a holistic approach to parking problems at local centres.

“I see a problem in the way we handle parking because we don’t start to collect cash-in-lieu until the problem occurs, then we start to run into parking problems,” she said.

A council officer’s report said the City had received a “number of complaints” about the well-utilised area and found parking was overflowing on to surrounding streets during peak periods.

The study is estimated to cost $30,000, take six months to complete and will be considered in the City’s 2016-17 budget. Planning and development director Ross Povey said the City would fund the proposed study.

Mr Harman, who lives on Flora Terrace, is also concerned about a parking shortfall from nearby multiple dwelling apartments.

“Intensification is coming to this area without the parking bays being part of it; there are developments here that were four parking bays short,” he said.

“I think developers should be required to put some money in or pay for the City’s parking study.

“I would like to work with the developers to make this area thrive and to sell properties they need a happening environment.”

Carine MLA Tony Krsticevic, who put a grievance before Parliament about the issue, said cash-in-lieu parking for developments was the root of the problem.

“When people do develop, they should develop the parking according to planning requirements and not encroach on other amenities in the area,” Mr Krsticevic said.

“Residents feel very strongly that the council and, by extension, the JDAP are allowing these new buildings to proceed without ensuring that the developers were providing adequate parking.

“As a result, their streets are becoming choked with cars seeking parking and residents are worried about the safety repercussions.

“I cannot but wonder if this is simply a way that developers buy their way out of the requirement to provide adequate parking.”

Planning Minister John Day said there was no “one-size-fits-all” approach for imposing cash-in-lieu requirements on development approvals.