Central city parking boost for Christmas

Central city shoppers and commuters received an early Christmas present today from Council, with changes made to parking rates at Garden Place and Knox St car park buildings.

From Thursday 13 December to 6 January 2013 shoppers to the central city who park in the Garden Place car park will get the first two hours free for both weekdays and weekends.

And over this period commuters to Knox St car park will pay a daily maximum of $3 for both weekdays and weekends.

Casual daily commuters using the Garden Place car park will see their maximum daily rate increase to $15 for this period, in a move to free up commuter parks for short stay Christmas and January sales shoppers.
Council agreed the changes to ensure shoppers to the central city for the busy pre Christmas shopping period and post Christmas sales were easily able to park for free or at little cost. Longer stay commuters are being encouraged to park at the Knox St car park a short distance away.

Commenting Chris Allen, City Infrastructure General Manager said: "Council has given central city Christmas shoppers a great boost from this Thursday and through to early in the New Year by providing the first two hours of parking free in the Garden Place car park for both weekdays and the weekend.

"Our thinking behind today's changes is to ensure the Garden Place car park is available for shoppers to the central city, while commuters can take advantage of a great $3 daily rate at the Knox St car park just a short distance away.

“Festive season shoppers and commuters are also encouraged to make use of the city’s great public transport system, which will get them straight into the heart of the city.”

From 7 January 2013 the Garden Place car park rates will change, but there will still be free shopper parking for the first hour on both weekdays and weekends. Daily commuter rates will be able to be varied by Council depending on the need for shopper parking spaces, but will return to a $6.50 maximum daily rate initially. Knox St parking building rates will return to their existing rates.