Perth CBD Parking Fees Set to Soar as City Council Votes to Slash Free Perks
Visitors and drivers in the Perth Central Business District are bracing for significant changes to parking arrangements, with reduced free parking and increased fees set to be implemented within weeks. The City of Perth council voted decisively at its Tuesday night meeting to support recommendations from city officers to lift parking fees and cut back on free parking incentives across some of the most frequently used car parks throughout the city center.
Council Approves Parking Fee Changes with Minor Amendment
The council approved the parking fee changes with a minor amendment proposed by Councillor Chris Patton. This amendment calls for twenty parking bays to remain as one-hour free parking at Fraser Point, while all other bays will no longer offer this complimentary parking period. The council passed this measure as a twelve-month trial period, allowing for assessment of its impact on city visitors and revenue generation.
The removal of one-hour free parking at Point Fraser alone is estimated to generate approximately four hundred thousand dollars annually for the city. This represents a substantial shift in parking policy that will affect thousands of daily commuters and visitors to the Perth CBD.
Major Changes to Free Parking Periods
Starting from March 30, city visitors will experience significant reductions in free parking availability. The previously offered three-hour free parking at Pier Street, Cultural Centre, and His Majesty's car parks will be reduced to just two hours of complimentary parking. This change represents a thirty-three percent reduction in free parking time at these popular locations, potentially affecting shopping patterns, business visits, and leisure activities throughout the central business district.
EasyPark Users Face New Service Charges
Perhaps the most impactful change for regular CBD visitors involves the EasyPark payment system, which comprises more than eighty percent of carpark users throughout the city. EasyPark users will now be required to pay the service charge fee of eleven point five percent, which was previously covered by the city administration.
According to the official report presented to council, "Re-establishment of the user pay service fee on all Easy Park payments supports the intended long term pricing model where the user pays a convenience fee direct to the app provider." This shift represents a fundamental change in how parking services are funded and who bears the cost of digital payment convenience.
Financial Implications and Revenue Projections
The new parking fee structure is projected to generate substantial additional revenue for the City of Perth. Financial estimates indicate the changes will bring an extra one million dollars in the 2025-26 financial year, followed by four million dollars in the 2026-27 financial year. These funds are considered vital for city operations and development projects.
The officer's report emphasized that parking revenue enables investment in critical infrastructure, supports event activation throughout the city, and helps minimize increases to rates for residents and businesses. The report noted that "Parking services currently provides five million dollars in free parking incentives introduced to drive visitation back into the city," suggesting these incentives have served their purpose and can now be adjusted.
Additional Fee Increases Across Parking Facilities
Beyond the changes to free parking periods and EasyPark charges, the council approved additional increases to standard parking rates. Hourly fees at boom-gated carparks throughout the CBD will increase by fifty cents, while weekday day rates will see a one dollar increase. These incremental changes, combined with the elimination of free parking incentives, create a comprehensive restructuring of parking economics in Perth's central business district.
The parking fee changes represent one of the most significant adjustments to CBD parking policy in recent years and will likely influence transportation patterns, business visitation, and urban mobility throughout Western Australia's capital city.
