Student to risk fines with new parking times

‘There is nowhere else to park, it isn’t an option to miss class and I’m not going to drive all the way back home to Coogee ” so I will have to take my chances,’ the 21-year-old said.

At its July 23 meeting, Nedlands councillors approved permanent parking restrictions on residential streets surrounding Stirling Highway, following a six-month trial that ended in April.

Parking times on Archdeacon, Bruce, Thomas, Tyrell and Webster streets will be restricted from unlimited to three-hours, with some areas of Archdeacon Street reduced from two- to one-hour parking.

Cr Mike Somerville-Brown, who lives on Tyrell Street, said the proposal would improve access and amenity as the streets were often packed with cars by 8am.

Nedlands technical services director Mark Goodlet said residential streets were not a public parking lot.

‘The City is not responsible for providing all-day parking to university students,’ he said.

‘The State Government determined capped parking levels at UWA, so the City has taken the position that it will not provide overflow parking for a State decision.’

Mr Clarke, who is in the third year of his law and commerce double degree, said he relied on his car to get to classes four days a week.

‘Sometimes with public transport it takes up to two hours just to get to there, whereas when I drive it’s only about half an hour,’ he said.

‘I bought a parking permit last year, but it was a waste of money because you cannot get a space unless you arrive before 7am,’ he added.