Newly released Australian Bureau of Statistics federal crime statistics point to a parking-related crime wave in Canberra, pulsating out of the Australian National University.
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Federal parking offences committed in the state rose by over 50 per cent in 2012-13 with 777 offences recorded while in 2011-12 there was just 514. Nationwide, the increase was slightly less drastic with a rise of 29 per cent year-on-year. This was noted by the ABS who explained that the university accounted for most of the offences.
Unlike most of the capital which lies on state land, the university hosts the biggest car park on federal land in the ACT with about 6000 cars passing through the campus daily.
But a university spokesperson cautioned against attributing the rise in auto crime to students: “I wouldn’t be so quick to accuse our students of that. You have to remember we are right next to the city. We don’t know how many people park here illegally.”
Parking has always been tight on the ANU campus. Apart from permanent parking spots, spots are mostly timed from half to two hours.
While the rest of Canberra is patrolled by state parking officers, security guards employed by the university are also responsible for campus parking enforcement.
The spokesperson said ANU had a long-term problem of office workers parking on campus and added that “we provide lots of free bike parking.”
ANU are allowed by its ruling council to set whatever fees it likes and is an accredited statutory authority so they are able to charge students and staff as well as enforce fines through the courts.
Funds from permits and fines go into university coffers. Nearly half of $4.8 million in extra revenue ANU plans to raise this year will be from an increase in parking fees according to their budget.
Undercover yearly parking station permits for staff increased from $871 per year to $2,200 per year, and $1400 for an outdoor permit. Parking permit fees for student also rose but are significantly cheaper.
The changes are yet to be seen in the statistics since the federal figures are for the last financial year.
Apart from ANU, parts of the defence precinct, the central parliamentary zone and areas around the lake also sit on federal land which is patrolled by ACT government parking officers.
Currently, the National Capital Authority is awaiting their proposal to become a parking authority to go through the Senate so it can start charging for parking in those areas.
