Residents prepare for public servant influx when paid parking is introduced

Inner south residents living on the fringe of the triangle are bracing for an influx of public servants in their streets when the change happens.

But a Territory and Municipal Services spokeswoman said the government was considering which streets were most at risk, and would introduce time limits. This would typically limit people to parking for two hours and be in streets in Acton, Yarralumla, Deakin, Forrest and Campbell. The exact locations would be decided after meetings with residents associations in May.

"The need for parking controls will be guided by the need to maintain safe traffic flow and to preserve the amenity of residential streets by limiting commuter all day parking," she said.

Inner South Canberra Community Council has called on the ACT government to increase parking patrols in suburbs surrounding the triangle when workers are forced to cough up $11 a day to park.

Council president Gary Kent said he was worried many public servants would be tempted to park their cars illegally in Barton, Kingston and parts of Forrest and walk the rest of the way to work to save money.

His concern mirrors a similar problem in Woden which resulted in the ACT government increasing patrols in Lyons due to workers leaving their cars in time-restricted areas all day and walking to and from the town centre.

“Many people are very worried about the impact,” he said.

“A lot of people are parking illegally and getting away with it. If parking is not being enforced people will take the risk. I think another parking officer would pay for themselves [in fines].”

Mr Kent said a sea of parked cars along streets could be a hazard at intersections or when backing out of driveways, while cars driving onto nature strips over roots could damage trees.

Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the government was considering whether additional parking inspectors would be required in the ACT once paid parking was introduced.

An average of 15 parking inspectors currently patrol the territory each day.

“There will be an adequate number of officers who will conduct routine patrols,” he said.

“The ACT government is working with the NCA to identify particular areas where illegal parking behaviour may manifest and will deploy appropriate controls to deter illegal parking behaviour.

“The ACT government has also met with the Inner South Community Council to discuss parking issues and will continue to engage with the council on this matter.”

Kingston Barton Residents Association president Janet Hughes said surrounding streets were already being affected by parliamentary zone workers branching out in search of all-day parking.

She was worried the situation would only worsen and hoped the ACT government would boost the enforcement of parking in the area.

“I think it’s reasonable to predict this is only going to get worse when people have to pay for parking in the parliamentary zone ... and the closest place is Barton,” she said.

Ms Hughes said areas where commuters were overstaying limits or parking dangerously included streets near the Australian Federal Police College, the Brassey Hotel car park, Telopea Park and Sydney Avenue.

Similarly, association secretary Rebecca Scouller said she had recently witnessed six people retrieving their cars from two-hour parks on Darling Street at the end of the working day, with none fined.

“There have been conversations in workplaces and people are hedging their bets – a fine is still less expensive than paid parking,” she said.

Ms Schouller said residents in Barton and Kingston had also received notices asking to rent car spaces.