Businesses to pay for others’ benefit
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Tuesday, 26 June, 2001 - 22:00
BUSINESSES on the outskirts of the central business district will be levied for services they will not receive.
Two weeks ago, Minister Responsible for Public Transport Michelle Roberts ann-ounced a 70 per cent hike in parking bay licences, saying the $5.5 million raised annually from the higher fees would be used to expand the Central Area Transit bus fleet and a number of other city access projects.
The move has angered parking bay owners, who will have to fork out an extra $50 a year for car bays and $25 for motorcycle bays.
However, businesses on the edge of the CBD also will have to pay the higher fees, despite the fact CAT buses do not service the outer areas.
City West centre manager Mike Jaworski, of CB Richard Ellis, said the impost was outrageous considering CAT buses did not come past the centre.
The big jump could mean the centre would have to introduce parking fees for its 800 bays, something it had so far managed to avoid.
“Tenants here believe that it is critical for parking to be free for visitors, paid parking may cause them to turn away,” Mr Jaworski said.
“Places such as Scitech will be badly affected because families visit the centre for up to three or four hours, and if we start charging for parking they may decide not to come.”
He said he was especially disappointed with the current Government because, when it was in opposition, (now) Transport Min-ister Alannah MacTiernan had supported calls from City West to be exempt from the parking licence fees when they were intro-duced in 1999.
Mr Jaworski has written twice to Ms MacTiernan on the issue and has yet to receive a reply.
He has, however, received a $90,000 bill for the centre’s parking licence fees, up nearly $40,000 on last year’s levy.
Another site that won’t receive the benefits of the increased fees is the Old Swan Brewery, owned by Multiplex Con-structions.
A Multiplex spokesman confirmed the higher fees did apply to the site and that, as yet, there had been no indications from the Government that CAT buses would service the site.
“However, the previous Transport Min-ister Murray Criddle had informed us the CAT buses would not go past because of logistical reasons, the buses would have to go to Nedlands before they could turn around,” he said.
“Like all others affected, we are disappointed by the increase.”
A spokesperson for Mrs Roberts said it was likely the CAT bus routes would be expanded into East Perth, but no decision had yet been made as to exact routes.
Two weeks ago, Minister Responsible for Public Transport Michelle Roberts ann-ounced a 70 per cent hike in parking bay licences, saying the $5.5 million raised annually from the higher fees would be used to expand the Central Area Transit bus fleet and a number of other city access projects.
The move has angered parking bay owners, who will have to fork out an extra $50 a year for car bays and $25 for motorcycle bays.
However, businesses on the edge of the CBD also will have to pay the higher fees, despite the fact CAT buses do not service the outer areas.
City West centre manager Mike Jaworski, of CB Richard Ellis, said the impost was outrageous considering CAT buses did not come past the centre.
The big jump could mean the centre would have to introduce parking fees for its 800 bays, something it had so far managed to avoid.
“Tenants here believe that it is critical for parking to be free for visitors, paid parking may cause them to turn away,” Mr Jaworski said.
“Places such as Scitech will be badly affected because families visit the centre for up to three or four hours, and if we start charging for parking they may decide not to come.”
He said he was especially disappointed with the current Government because, when it was in opposition, (now) Transport Min-ister Alannah MacTiernan had supported calls from City West to be exempt from the parking licence fees when they were intro-duced in 1999.
Mr Jaworski has written twice to Ms MacTiernan on the issue and has yet to receive a reply.
He has, however, received a $90,000 bill for the centre’s parking licence fees, up nearly $40,000 on last year’s levy.
Another site that won’t receive the benefits of the increased fees is the Old Swan Brewery, owned by Multiplex Con-structions.
A Multiplex spokesman confirmed the higher fees did apply to the site and that, as yet, there had been no indications from the Government that CAT buses would service the site.
“However, the previous Transport Min-ister Murray Criddle had informed us the CAT buses would not go past because of logistical reasons, the buses would have to go to Nedlands before they could turn around,” he said.
“Like all others affected, we are disappointed by the increase.”
A spokesperson for Mrs Roberts said it was likely the CAT bus routes would be expanded into East Perth, but no decision had yet been made as to exact routes.