State Government Declines Funding for Applecross Ferry Terminal Carpark
The State Government has confirmed that it will not allocate funds to support the construction of a public carpark at the upcoming Applecross ferry terminal. This decision comes despite concerns from local residents about increased traffic and parking pressures in the area.
The ferry terminal, part of a $107 million expansion of public transport along the Swan River, is planned to be built north of the Raffles Hotel, near the Raffles Waterfront Apartments. It is scheduled for completion by late 2027.
Council's Push for Carpark Funding
In August of last year, the City of Melville council voted to request State Government funding for a public carpark at the terminal site, aiming to address potential parking issues as soon as possible. However, the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure and the Public Transport Authority have informed the council that carparking is not included in the project's scope.
A report to be presented to the council this month states that there are no existing funding programs to support standalone carparking infrastructure. Even if such programs were available, the city might be required to cover up to half of the costs.
"Given the scale of the proposed project and the current uncertainty regarding costs, this would necessitate a substantial upfront council funding commitment to assess project viability," the report explains.
Alternative Solutions and Community Concerns
In response, the City of Melville has asked Transperth to consider contributing to a multistorey carpark. The council believes this would benefit Transperth's operations by providing parking for passengers and alleviating parking pressures in nearby residential and commercial areas.
Residents have expressed worries that the new terminal could lead to increased traffic and strain on local parking. The project website for the terminals notes that there will be no space for passenger carparks, as the terminals are located near high-density residential areas and major activity centres.
"This is in line with other inner-city public transport hubs and ferry terminals," the website states. "Instead, the ferry routes are designed to integrate with existing cycling and walking infrastructure, as well as other Transperth services, providing convenient transport options for passengers."
As a compromise, Transperth plans to convert two parking bays close to the Applecross terminal into "kiss and ride" drop-off bays, offering a limited solution for passenger access.
