Letter to the Mayor Regarding Double Bay Commercial Centre Car Parking Issues

The Mayor

Councillor Andrew Petrie

Woollahra Municipal Council

PO Box 61

Double Bay NSW 1360

Dear Mayor,

Re: Double Bay Commercial Centre Car Parking Issues

Following our discussions at the Chamber of Commerce Networking event, the Double Bay Chamber of Commerce requests that Woollahra Council urgently review the Council’s car parking policies, as they apply to the Double Bay Commercial Centre.

It is the view of the Double Bay Chamber of Commerce that Council’s car parking policies must ensure that car parking in Double Bay achieves the following policy objectives:

1.      That car parking rates, restrictions and services are competitive with neighbouring commercial centres;

2.      That the provision of car parking in the Centre is reasonably optimised so as to maximise the economic benefit to be gained   by existing car parking spaces;

3.      Expand the services available to car park users;

4.      That any changes to car parking policies are made in such a way so as to reasonably minimise any potential impact on Council’s revenue.

Based on the January 2007 “Double Bay Commercial Centre Development Study” prepared by Hill PDA Consulting, and coupled with the Chamber’s own recent tenant survey of March 2013, obtained from direct interviews with 320 businesses in Double Bay, the case for change to Council’s car parking policies, in our opinion is overwhelming, and has been so for a considerable period of time.

Clearly, the temporary closure of the Kiaora Lands car park is exacerbating what has been a long-term issue in the Double Bay Commercial Centre.

It is view of the Double Bay Chamber of Commerce, that Woollahra Council has a responsibility to mitigate as far as possible any potential negative impacts resulting from the construction of the Kiaora Lands development, notwithstanding the anticipated (and much hoped for) improvement to Double Bay’s retail environment that will surely result when that development is complete.

The Double Bay Chamber of Commerce requests that Woollahra Council review and instigate the following changes to Council’s car parking policies, as a matter of urgency.

1.    That Council trial the following changes to all metered car parking spaces, similar to the successful trial by Leichhardt Municipal Council, that has now been made permanent:

a.      That all metered parking spaces be converted to 2 hour time limited spaces;

b.      That all metered parking spaces also allow the option for 30 minutes free parking;

c.       That peak hourly rates for metered parking be competitive with the hourly parking rates for surrounding Commercial Centres.

It has been long anticipated by Woollahra Council that the closure of the Kiaora Lane car park would have a short term detrimental impact on the retail trading conditions in Double Bay Commercial Centre. To Council’s credit, some changes were made along New South Head Road and to the Cross Street car park in order to alleviate some of the worst effected parts of Double Bay.

Unfortunately, as a result of the larger than expected economic impacts resulting from the closure of the Kiaora Lands car park, Council needs to do far more to lessen the impact of this development and we believe Council must as a matter of urgency, trial changes that the Double Bay Chamber of Commerce believe will help encourage local residents to shop in Double Bah while at the same time, based on the Leichhardt experience, ensure that Council’s revenue base from parking meters is reasonably maintained.

2.    That improved signage be installed, better directing drivers to the Cross Street car park as   a result of the Kiaora Lands car park closure;

The current signage is inadequate and unless you are a regular commuter to Double Bay, you do not know where the Cross Street car park is.

Professional signage needs to be designed and installed in order to redirect traffic to the Cross Street car park.

3.    That the 2 hours of free parking that is applicable for clients of businesses along New South Head Road, be extended to all of Double Bay;

The current concessions are welcome, however, they are hindered by poor signage and confusion as to how tickets can be appropriately validated. Plus we feel Council need to acknowledge that all of Double Bay has been adversely effected by the closure of the Kiaora Lands car park. For the Double Bay Commercial Centre to remain competitive, shoppers need to be able to have their parking ticket validated by any retailer in Double Bay and not just limited to those on the Kiaora Lands side of New South Head Road.

The Double Bay Chamber of Commerce would appreciate if Council were also to advise when the existing contracts with 3 ^rd party operators expire, and for the Chamber to be consulted during the tender process for the operation of the new Kiaora Lands car park.

4.    That the Council introduce electronic signs at the entrance to the Cross Street car park noting the number of car spaces available;

The cost of implementing this recommendation is relatively inexpensive and can be implemented quickly.

All modern shopping centre car parks advise drivers before they enter the car park whether or not there is vacant car parking and also advise drivers precisely how many car spaces are available so as to avoid frustration.

Clearly, Double Bay needs to keep up with the times and ensure that all of Council’s owned and controlled car parks have this simple technology installed.

5.    That a valet parking scheme be implemented in Double Bay either on-street along dedicated parking spaces in Knox Street with the cars parked in the Cross Street car park or within one of Council’s owned or controlled car parks, such as the Cosmopolitan Centre car park;

The valet parking scheme at Bondi Junction Westfield has been an enormous commercial success and given the wealth of the eastern suburbs demographic a valet parking scheme in Double Bay would also likely be an enormous commercial success.

The Double Bay Chamber of Commerce calls on Woollahra Council to put a valet parking scheme out to public tender without delay to test the demand for valet parking in Double Bay and also to allow private valet parking operators to help advise the Council and the community what would be the most effective and profitable means of introducing valet parking and associated services to Double Bay.

We look forward to your early response.

Kind regards,

Greg Solomon

Chairman

Double Bay Chamber of Commerce