Major Changes to Parking in Perth CBD as Council Considers Fee Hikes
Drivers in the Perth CBD could soon face significantly less free parking and increased fees, with a City of Perth report recommending sweeping changes to take effect from March 30. The proposal, prepared by commercial services general manager Steven Holden, aims to address congestion and generate additional revenue for the city.
Reductions in Free Parking Incentives
The report suggests cutting free parking hours at key locations. Currently, the Pier Street, Cultural Centre, and His Majesty’s Theatre car parks offer three hours of free parking, but this would be reduced to two hours. More drastically, the one-hour free parking promotion at Point Fraser would be eliminated entirely. According to the report, these adjustments are designed to "force faster turnover in areas struggling with congestion" and ensure fairer use of parking facilities by allowing more visitors to access spaces.
City officials argue that the current parking services provide $5 million in free parking incentives, which were initially introduced to drive visitation back into the city. However, with demand now outstripping capacity, the changes are seen as necessary to manage parking more effectively.
Increases in Parking Fees and App Charges
In addition to the reduction in free parking, drivers using boom-gated areas at these and other car parks will likely face higher charges. The proposal includes:
- Most hourly rates rising by 50 cents.
- Weekday day rates increasing by $1.
- Weekend day rates and night rates remaining unchanged.
The report states that these "modest increases to parking fees ... are balanced and necessary to offset the increasing demand for all day parking in boom gated off-street car parks." Parking revenue is considered vital for the city, enabling investment in infrastructure, event activation, and minimizing rate increases.
End of Subsidies for EasyPark App Users
Motorists who pay via mobile apps, particularly the EasyPark app, will also be impacted. The city has been absorbing an 11.5% service fee charged by EasyPark to keep costs aligned with parking meters, but this subsidy is set to end. The report clarifies that this approach was only intended as a short-term promotional strategy and that with over 80% of people now using the app, it is time to return to a user-pays system.
"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," the report explains. This change means app users will no longer benefit from the city covering the service fee, leading to higher overall costs for digital payments.
Financial Implications and Council Decision
The proposed changes are expected to bring substantial financial benefits to the City of Perth. If implemented, the new fees would generate an additional $1 million in the 2025-26 financial year and $4 million in 2026-27. Specifically, the removal of one-hour free parking at Point Fraser alone is estimated to contribute $400,000 annually.
This follows a previous decision in February last year, when the council voted to increase parking fees, end free night parking, and introduce payment for electric vehicle charging facilities. The council is scheduled to consider the latest proposal at its meeting on February 24, with support likely to bring the changes into effect swiftly.
As Perth continues to grow, these parking adjustments reflect broader efforts to manage urban congestion and secure funding for city development, though they may pose challenges for daily commuters and visitors alike.
