At the General Meeting on 17 June, I moved Council’s Access and Parking Strategy, which is about more than simply building more car parks — it is about making it easier, safer and fairer for people to get to the places they need to go. That means planning for walking, cycling, public transport, shared transport, smarter parking management and better use of existing parking.
This matters because parking demand is already putting pressure on some of our key centres and destinations, and that pressure will only grow as our population increases. A narrow “just build more parking” approach is expensive, with some parking spaces costing up to $100,000 each, so we need to be strategic, practical and financially responsible.
This Strategy supports a more balanced and future-focused approach that improves access for everyone, including young people, older residents, people with disability and households without a car. Council will progressively review key destination points in turn, with Cleveland, Weinam Creek and island ferry terminals currently under review. It also supports local businesses, liveable centres and better long-term planning, which is why I support its adoption.