Developers of a new mixed-use precinct in Barton hope a new structured car park will ease pressures on commuters in the Parliamentary Triangle.
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The Little National Hotel car park, located on National Circuit opposite the Realm Hotel, opened on Monday.
It is part of the redevelopment of car parks bordered by Blackall, Macquarie and Broughton streets into the residential and retail Governor Place precinct.
Doma Group general manager of development Gavin Edgar said 489 spaces were available with another 104 to become available in about four weeks.
The new car park conformed to modern building standards and had four upper storeys and two basements, he said.
It was an affordable option for public servants working in the area and would ease the issue of parking in Barton, Mr Edgar said.
Paid parking was introduced in the Parliamentary Triangle in October last year.
Mr Edgar said another car park with 650 spaces was being built on Macquarie Street and he expected it to be completed in September.
"The Doma Group is delivering over 1100 new car park spaces in the Barton precinct," he said.
Public servant Hannah Mattner used the car park this week and said she would continue to do so when she does not have time for "a nice walk with the rosellas".
The early bird option was $4 cheaper than the rate at the Realm Hotel parking lot, also owned by Doma Group, she said.
Kingston Barton Residents Group vice-president Janet Hughes said the suburb did not need another car park.
"Unfortunately a lot of paid parking is underutilised and people still park on the streets," she said.
The group would welcome any attempt to try to deal with the problem, which included people parking in driveways and on tree roots, Dr Hughes said.
"We would like to see better consideration of other options like public transport, cycling and things like that," she said.
"There has to be a limit to how much of a suburb can be converted into parking.
"The new car park may take some of the pressure off but that will depend on people using it."
With heritage buildings in the area and restrictions imposed around a species of endangered moth, Dr Hughes hoped Barton would not be turned into a "high-rise jungle".
The Doma Group and Morris Property Group received master-plan approval from the National Capital Authority in 2013 for the redevelopment of the car-park site.
On completion it will include two residential complexes, car parks, retail offerings and a supermarket.
