Page 1849 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 8 June 2016
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Mr Wall’s motion does call on the government to cease all plans to implement additional parking in the Phillip precinct. I found that suggestion quite strange but I think it might be a typo in the motion. I think it might have meant to refer to paid parking rather than all parking. If I have misunderstood that, so be it. But I expect that, as Phillip grows or as the area is further developed or reconfigured, it could be necessary to implement additional parking. At least, it may need additional parking for people with a disability. While I think the parking is probably adequate for now, I would not want to rule it out, as the motion suggests, although I do suspect that is a typo.
Parking certainly is a common concern of residents and businesses in Canberra, just as it is in most cities, and we all have people talk to us about these issues. They often complain about a lack of parking, that it is hard to find parking or they do not want to pay for parking. Certainly, everybody wants to park for free. I think it is a natural feeling but certainly I can understand that the immediate reaction of traders in Phillip is that they do not like the idea of paid parking and they would prefer it was not introduced. But we should all know there is a balance to be found between the amount of parking provided and the price that is put on parking.
It simply does not work for a city to be awash with free parking, and I think the evidence on that is clear. Doing so provides a very large subsidy for car drivers and is paid for elsewhere by the community. The approach does not create a driving utopia. I do think the outcomes end up being worse. The better approach is actually to price parking appropriately to reflect its costs, to ensure that the city continues to work, so that space is used efficiently so that the customers of businesses do actually turn over and we do not distort people’s travel choices.
In the longer term it turns out better for everyone to have properly priced parking. Paid parking is present in many parts of Canberra already, in town centres for example. It is present in Woden just up the road from the Phillip precinct and it is also present already in Altree Court, Botany Street and Melrose Drive in Phillip. It is fair enough that a sensible and consistent paid parking policy is explored for other parts of Phillip.
There are identified issues with vehicle turnover in Phillip. It is also worth noting that it is an area well served by public transport with a blue rapid bus service stopping at the edge of the precinct, on Athllon Drive.
Although it is not entirely clear, I think that Mr Wall does agree that paid parking is acceptable to some degree in Phillip. He probably does not want to say that he supports it overall but he is probably aware that it is fair and reasonable to apply paid parking policies consistently across the city.
I do agree that further consultation should occur and the government should try to reach the best solution. I would suggest that there may not be a solution reached where all stakeholders are absolutely happy but it could still be the best community outcome to proceed with paid parking. Of course, it is also necessary to recognise the needs of people working in the area and to formulate the final parking policy appropriately.
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