27 public parking bays at Mount Hawthorn site remain uncertain after EOI debate

City of Vincent councillors amended a proposal covering the 27-bay Coogee Street car park in Mount Hawthorn after concerns about the effect of redevelopment on nearby businesses and public parking.

The amendment would require a purchaser to agree to incorporate a minimum number of bays for continued public parking, to the City’s satisfaction. It does not state whether all 27 existing bays would remain, or whether a smaller number would be accepted.

Council considered Proposed Expressions of Interest No. 179 for Lot 3, Scarborough Beach Road. The process does not commit the City to selling, leasing or redeveloping the land, and submissions are to return to Council for consideration before any further decision.

Discussion centred on the quality of available parking-use data, including whether the car park is used mainly by employees or by customers visiting the Scarborough Beach Road shopping area. Councillors also questioned who would set parking fees in a future development and how public parking demand had been assessed.

A written submission from Dudley Maier said the Coogee Street car park contributed to the function of the town centre and raised concerns about the potential effect on small businesses. Maier also argued that uncertainty about the number of bays and parking conditions could discourage developers from submitting Expressions of Interest.

The amended wording refers to a minimum number of bays for continued public use, but does not specify the number or explain how fees would be set. Those details would affect how developers assess the site and how much public parking remains available to customers and other users.

Submissions from the EOI process are to return to Council for consideration. No date was specified for that report, and the final substantive resolution on the item is not clearly stated in the extracted record.