Page 1846 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2016
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MR WALL: I present the following paper:
Petition which does not conform with the standing orders—Phillip business district—Financial impact of paid parking—Mr Wall (679 signatures).
On that note I commend my motion to the Assembly.
MS FITZHARRIS (Molonglo—Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research, Minister for Transport and Municipal Services and Assistant Minister for Health) (3.52): I would like to thank Mr Wall for the opportunity to speak today on this matter. I move the following amendment that has been circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes that:
(a) the Phillip precinct is an important hub for business in the ACT. The ACT Government is working with the traders and other community stakeholders to develop a balanced approach to parking in Phillip that meets the needs of small, medium and large businesses, as well as those of employees, customers and the residents of the surrounding suburbs;
(b) the ACT Government is committed to increasing transport options for all Canberrans, including improved public transport, better road networks, and a planned and fair parking regime that balances the varied needs of the community; and
(c) the Chief Minister, the Minister for Transport and Municipal Services and the Minister for Small Business and the Arts have each met with traders to discuss their needs. The Minister for Transport and Municipal Services will continue to consult with relevant stakeholders to come to a balanced outcome for parking in the precinct and to discuss other municipal issues in the precinct; and
(2) calls on the ACT Government to continue to work with Phillip traders and other stakeholders to ensure that a balanced and fair outcome is reached regarding parking in the precinct.”.
I will certainly start by agreeing with Mr Wall that the government ought to consult actively with the Phillip community, and that is exactly what we have done. As Mr Wall will know, the decision to expand pay parking in the Phillip business district was made in the 2015-16 ACT budget. The expansion was in response to a demand for short-term visitor parking spaces in the Phillip precinct to support some of the local traders.
Currently, there is only limited time-restricted parking in the precinct, with many of the all-day spaces taken up by commuters who work in nearby Woden. We had heard from local traders and small businesses that it can be a struggle for their customers to find parking due to this all-day commuter parking.
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