Page 556 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
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getting to or into a place can limit a person with disability from participating in everyday life and common daily activities.
In the ACT, the mobility parking scheme operates in accordance with the Australian disability parking scheme framework. While this national framework does not require the provision of free parking for mobility parking permit holders, the ACT government opted to provide free parking for mobility permit holders within the car parks we manage.
Some of the mobility parking permit spaces have a time limit which must be observed by the permit holder. Mobility parking permit holders can also park free of charge in ticketed parking areas, ACT government-operated car parks and on-street parking spaces that are free but time restricted for up to two hours if the time limit on the parking sign is 30 minutes or less and for an unlimited time if the time limit on the parking sign is more than 30 minutes.
It is true that publicly accessible, privately managed car parks set their own terms and conditions of use, including whether timed or free concessions are available to any user group, such as mobility parking permit holders. Ultimately motorists are responsible for checking time and fee conditions wherever they park their vehicle. Much confusion is caused when parking fee arrangements are not the same in private and government-operated car parks. The benefit of requiring private car park operators to operate consistently with the ACT government in their treatment of mobility parking permits is immeasurable.
This issue was discussed at a cross-government parking working group meeting in November 2019. During discussions it was noted that there is no precedent in other Australian jurisdictions to require private parking operators to offer free parking to certain user groups. As mentioned, private car park operators set their own terms and conditions of use for their facilities. However, they must continue to offer mobility parking spaces at the provision rates required by ACT planning regulations.
I support Ms Lee’s proposition for government to consult with private car park operators to discuss consistent mobility parking time limits and arrangements. The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate is responsible for parking policy in the ACT, and I understand the directorate, as part of its ongoing work regarding mobility parking, considered recent feedback from People with Disabilities ACT. In May 2019 the directorate undertook a mobility parking review into the inappropriate use of mobility car spaces and announced a range of tougher penalties for drivers who illegally use mobility car spaces and permits.
The ACT government continues to monitor the misuse of mobility car spaces. For example, technology now allows parking inspectors, while on patrol, to check for the use of invalid, lost or stolen mobility permits. This is good news for those genuinely seeking a mobility car park who often find car spaces occupied by illegally parked vehicles.
The Community Services Directorate, through the Office for Disability, works with Canberra’s disability advocacy groups and the ACT disability reference group
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