NORTHBRIDGE parking will receive a much-needed boost with council establishing a temporary car park on land over the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel.
It will cost council $170,000 to build the temporary 209-bay car park to be accessed from Lake Street.
Parking availability in North-bridge has been significantly reduced with the closure of the 440-bay Number 8 Car Park on James Street.
Some business owners in the vicinity are reporting reductions in trade and blame these on the car park’s closure.
The car park is being redeveloped as a 475-bay car park with a 300-seat Imax theatre and retail tenancies.
Limited access to parking on the site is expected by December. However, the development is not expected to be completed before June.
In the meantime, site developer Multiplex has arranged for a free bus service to run on Friday and Saturday nights from council’s nearby Citiplace, Cultural Centre and State Library car parks.
It is proposed the temporary car park will be lit at night and have security patrols like other council car parks.
It is also proposed that parking fees be set at 90 cents per hour and $5 for all-day parking.
Council still has to negotiate with the land owners, the WA Planning Commission and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority, which is project manager for redevelopment of the land over the Farmer Freeway.
A staff note to council suggests an agreement should not be hard to reach as the site has been earmarked for use as a car park in the Northbridge Urban Renewal area.
