If you’re thinking about visiting the Town of Victoria Park to enjoy one of it’s many excellent coffee shops or eating houses, think again. Why? Because as of a bit over a month ago the local council imposed on local businesses and their customers one of the most draconian, absurd and regressive parking policies ever seen in the metropolitan area.
Their policy is to place parking meters along the full length of the Albany Highway strip and in most of the side streets. Parking will cost you $1.50 per hour with the first 15 minutes free. Unlike pretty much anywhere else in Perth, paid parking starts at 8am and ends at midnight–yes, that’s right, midnight!–seven days per week.
Now, if you’re thinking that I’ve got a bee in my bonnet, you’re right. Here’s why.
I’m the President of the newly formed Victoria Park Soccer Club. As a new club we’re struggling for resources, struggling for sponsors (if you’re keen, let me know) and struggling to get the support of established local clubs with whom we’re required to share resource. So today I dropped in to ask the Perth Royals if we could use their club rooms at JA Lee Reserve to store our bag of training balls. It didn’t seem like a big request but I soon got the impression they were less than keen to assist. Darren, the guy serving in the canteen and a club stalwart, explained why.
“Look, Peter, we’d love to help you but the local council aren’t giving us any reason to do that. Let me explain. Eight years ago we installed the pitch lights. They weren’t cheap. Now the Council have taken them back so they can sell the use of the grounds to other clubs so they can train at night. We still pay for the electricity but they get the ground rental fee. Tell me how that’s fair!”
I nodded in agreement. “It doesn’t sound fair at all,” I said.
“We pay $7500 a year to rent these facilities but we still have to beg the council to spend money on re-turfing the pitch in front of the goals. The want the money but they’re just not willing to do anything for it,” he explained.
“So, Peter, until we get some co-operation from the local council, we can’t help you. I hope you understand.”
I told him I did and wished him well.
After I left it got me thinking about the issue of paid parking and how the local council has lost it’s way. For who really benefits from paid parking? Local businesses? Hardly. If the council were serious about people overstaying their allocated time limit they’d tell the parking attendants to get off their arse and go write some tickets. Selling tickets does nothing more than glosses over a lack of productivity on the part of ticket writers. Consumers? Not at all! Now, if you want to drop into a local cafe for a coffee you’ll pay 4 bucks for the brew and another 2 for parking. Anyone up for that? Nope, didn’t think so. And who wants to–or thinks its fair to be forced to–go and buy a ticket when you go out for dinner when there are dozens of empty bays available? Once again, no-one’s raising their hand.
No, the only beneficiaries of paid parking is the local council through increased revenue. If that revenue flowed directly through to the community I might be a fan. But I’m not because that’s not what’s happening. Instead, the extra revenue is creating more jobs at Council house, more rules and regulations, and a place that’s decidedly less easy to live in.
So, just what’s happening here? My belief is that the local council–and particularly the Councillors because they’re the ones that should be calling the shots–have lost touch with the real needs of the local community. They’ve lost touch with needs of local volunteer organisations who want to create places where people can play and have fun without their members being forced to spend a fortune. They’ve lost touch with local shoppers who want to go to the pub on Sunday afternoon and not have to worry about their parking ticket running out. And they’ve lost touch with what it really takes to run a local small business.
It’s time for the local council to pull their heads out of their collective you know wheres and start paying attention. Because I for one have had enough. And I know I’m not alone.
Time to get rid of local governments they are incapable of responding to citizens needs
I agree Peter, we need to get rid of every councillor that is there.
Councillors in Local Government have recently been awarded over $30,000 a year (up from $7,000) so they have to cover that for a start. Then there’s the Shire President or Mayor who has just had a massive pay rise to over $120,000 from about $ 50,000. so you see, you ratepayers have got to foot the bill. Never mind keeping our kids 0ff the street with sports such as the world game of soccer, Councillors need to be looked after!
*Everyone* I know agrees with you, Peter. Do you have any ideas about what is the best way to give them this feedback? Should we write to the council, sign a petition, etc?
They are arseholes. Who do they think they are Fremantle. Not by a long shot.
You think this is bad ask why very few builders will even quote a job in Vic Park needing a permit. The building permits are ridiculously hard and the process drags on for months. Perhaps they could take a few pointers from Belmont Council, but they are too arrogant.
Thanks Peter for your feedback on parking. The Councillors and myself are listening to our community. We are looking at making changes to the parking restrictions at a special council meeting on Tuesday 6 May. We will be addressing the 12am time and the first 15 minute free and other aspects of the parking plan. These seem to be the major issues that are concerning businesses. Just to confirm that the money raised by paid parking will be going back into the community through infrastructure and transport improvement. Between now and the meeting on 6 May I will be meeting with businesses to gain a greater understanding of their position on parking as we have received both positive and negative feedback.
Regarding your comments about the Victoria Park Soccer Club and JA Lee Reserve – we have been working closely to support the Club. The following is an update on what has happened in relation to the lights:
– Perth Royals Club originally installed the pitch lights at JA Lee Reserve in 1998 however one fell over last year and two others were removed shortly after due to their poor condition as they were not maintained adequately.
– At a meeting on 10 September 2013, Council resolved to replace the lights, take over the maintenance and cover the power bill costs (associated with the lights) for the next five years.
– The Town then spent $30,000 replacing the three lighting towers.
– We have recently spent thousands of dollars on re-turfing goal mouths, as well as coring and verticutting the reserve.
As you know Peter, I have a great interest in sport in the Town of Victoria Park and wish to support all clubs to ensure they are successful. I would like to hear directly about issues of sporting clubs within the Town.
Please feel free to contact me at any time regarding the above matters so that I can assist as much as possible.
Hope to catch up with your soon Peter.
Mayor Trevor Vaughan
Well said.
Not even Mt Lawley or Leederville have restrictions as tough as ours. First hour free and paid only til 10pm… that’s where they should have started.
I agree Molly, the policy is punitive and heavy-handed without cause. Another comparison is Centro Vic Park where shoppers get the first 2 hours free. That said, 1 hour is more than enough in a strip shopping environment. I think think paid parking should finish at 5:30pm.
Hi Trev,
Thanks for your clarification. To get a feel for the angst that this issue has caused in the community you need to do no more than read the thread on Lee and Derek Baston’s Facebook page. The anger over the lack of consultation and the heavy-handed nature of the Town’s parking policy is very evident.
Regards
Peter
Hi Kez,
I note from the Mayor’s response to this thread that the issue will be discussed at a Council meeting on May 6. Maybe this is an opportunity for our local community to voice their displeasure.
Well done Trevor on listening to our concerns as business owners, although I think the 15 min free should be 30 mins free and after 6pm free as well! Having the paid parking has made the availability of finding a parking spot so much better but a lot of people still are unaware that they need to pay and are looking at the signs and seeing 2 hour parking and not much more! Look forward to chatting with you then. Kim
Hi Jay
It’s hard to argue against that proposition on the strength of what we’ve seen here. It seems to me they’ve gone to sleep at the wheel on this issue.
I am Not happy at all with this. This paid parking is not just Albany Highway and associated side streets. I went to Burswood Seafood’s the other day and it is all around there as well . Other side streets in that area are now 2 hour parking limit as well. If people (local residents) have visitors or someone stay overnight there is every chance of exceeding limit. The only thing, as I see it, is that businesses will suffer because it won’t be worth the hassle. So much for a relaxing cuppa for meal. As we know Public transport is a dismal affair, and of course it is not under council’s jurisdiction so passing the buck will happen for sure . No one in the community will benefit from this. Staff parking is an issue as well.
Agree with the comment on getting the rangers out there more. I live at the Causeway end of Albany Hwy and despite the parking restrictions in the side streets, there’s plenty of over stayers, the worst of all would be people who park on footpaths all day long with nary a ticket in site by the end of the day. I’ve lived down this end of Vic Park since November and have seen the rangers walking around here once in that time. If they were here daily, they’d probably make as much as these ticket machines make in a week. It’s definitely a cock-up the way they’ve gone about it compared to other councils, now that Vic Park is finally a destination with some atmosphere, it seems the local council wants to kill it off.
You’re right Paul, without active inspectors the new machines are at best a lazy way of raising revenue and at worst a disincentive for people to shop in Vic Park.
You’re spot on Trish. I had to visit the Council offices this afternoon and thought of dropping in to Cafe Gelato but decided against it because of the hassle of getting a ticket that would probably expire before the coffee was served.
If you get a colour cut and blow wave it takes over 2 hours I tried it once it took 2 hours and fifteen minutes and I got out the door to a parking fine that meanyt my air cost me more than I budgeted for … that was 2 years ago and the hairdressers did not get my return business. However living in Vic park with my streets now cluttered with cars everyday as people grab a cheaper bus ride I support paid parking I would like my visitors to be able to park in my street but they canno tdue to this anyway they use my driveway as Mr and Mrs cheap bus ticket move futher into my street now that parking meters are at the other end
Lyn makes a good point. It’s difficult having visitors over due to parking being taken by commuters, it’s always had me baffled why the Town doesn’t have residential permit zones, especially around the Raphael Park area and streets near the transit station.
I had to pay for parking to take my son to the GP (Kibg George st Family Practice). Everyone knows doctors don’t run on time! 15 minutes did not allow me the time so I had to pay! So wrong… It just makes me mad. I go to other cafés in the suburbs now… As I just can’t be bothered to make sure I have change… I can’t be bothered to park, find a close machine, walk back to car to display ticket… I have to rush errands- my time is now dictated by the 15 mins free or the amount of change I had and can’t have an impromptu coffee if I bump into a friend while running my errands without going back to car to load money in machine… I used to love Vic Park and thought we would stay in the area after living here for over 18 years, we moved in in our early 20’s as a young couple… We have married, had 2 children who are now teenagers.. We have seen this suburb transform and change for the better… We have stood by it and been proud to say we live in Vic park, but now it feels like it has been ruined… It doesn’t feel like home anymore!!! We are broadening our horizons now looking outside this community… It is such a shame…
That’s so well put Lisa. You’re right, it feels like we’re now pawns in a giant game that’s out of our control.