Parking Increase Will Hit Burleigh Hard

9 Dec 2016 1:54 PMMichael Hart

 

Parking Increase Will Hit Burleigh Hard

 

Member for Burleigh Michael Hart MP has condemned the Council’s decision to target Burleigh with a fee hike in council-controlled car parks.

 

“It seems that every time the Gold Coast City Council needs to increase revenue, the paid parking in Burleigh expands or increases in price” Mr Hart said.

 

“Councilors who don’t have paid parking don’t want it and so the pain is shifted to those areas who already have it.

 

‘Parking is busy everywhere that’s just an excuse, what about sharing the pain over the rest of Coast?” questioned Mr Hart.

 

Mr Hart is regularly speaking to local businesses who have long held concerns around parking in Burleigh ranging from cost to lack of availability.

 

Many Burleigh residents hold frustrations that their streets are going to become even more congested due to the increase with illegal parking already rife as a result of costs and shortages.

 

“The residents and businesses of Burleigh are already doing it tough with cost of living pressures and Council’s decision to single out Burleigh with Broadbeach does not sit well with me.

 

‘And it’s not just residents and businesses who will feel the pain, our Surf Life Saving volunteers are going to be out of pocket around $18 for undertaking a voluntary patrol,” said Mr Hart, an active Surf Life Saver himself.

 

“A parking increase is not good for anyone and announcing it right before Summer holidays shows there has been no consultation with local stakeholders.”

 

[ENDS] 9 December 2016

Contact: Renee Whitehead – 0421 507 109

 

Key Points

• Council has voted to expand a trial of paid parking in Burleigh Heads with review in August 2018

• Paid parking will be in force seven days a week between 9am and 5pm at Burleigh Heads

• Commuters will be forced to pay as much as $3.60 for each hour they park in the area