Perth Voice Interactive

THE bosses at the Italian Club and the WA Italo-Australian Welfare & Cultural Centre have implored Vincent council not to charge for parking on Fitzgerald Street.

The Fitzgerald Street car park is one of the last sneaky free parking spots in town, but earlier this year the council floated a plan to charge $2.40 an hour, following “numerous complaints” of people overstaying, especially commuters who catch a bus into the city, or employees of nearby businesses. It’s so popular that sometimes 150 cars cram into its 120 bays. Staff reckon ticket machines will give everyone a fair go at the bays.

Sarina Sirna says many people accessing IAWCC services are “aged people, needy people, disadvantaged people” and would have trouble finding the extra coin to pay for parking.

Italian Club president Joe Ridici says the “financial burden” on his membership could have big consequences if the bays go paid.

Vincent mayor John Carey says parking’s been one of the biggest issues since he got into the seat, and with the WA government not keeping up with demand for public transport it’s only getting worse. “There is intense demand for car parking in city areas,” he says.

His council deferred the introduction of paid parking but he says it isn’t permanent: if all remaining streets get timed limits, he says the Fitzgerald carpark could just get packed with those people instead. The idea will be revisited once the city’s car parking strategy is reviewed. Ticket machines for Lawley Street are also on the cards.

by DAVID BELL