Attachment F - Carparking Evaluation -Noosa Carparking Study - McGagney report

                                                                                                         Noosa Council
                                                                                    Noosa Car Parking Study 2017 - 2032
                                                                                                           Final Report



5         Appropriate Parking Demand Management
          Interventions
As previously identified, optimal parking utilisation levels are often quoted at around 85% of space occupied
during periods of peak parking demand (with a band of 70-90% utilisation considered acceptable). If parking
utilisation is maintained at this level, it should ensure that there is generally a parking space available to those
who require it, but also to minimise large areas of parking spaces going unutilised for significant periods of time.
Demand management measures have therefore been considered with reference to a 70-90% target utilisation.

This section evaluates potential parking demand management interventions and their applicability to the Noosa
context. The following parking management options could be considered where parking demand is projected
to exceed the ideal 85% parking utilisation rate or the current parking supply:
   Priced parking;
   Time-limited car parking and other priority controls;
   Directional signage;
   Car share schemes;
   Green travel plans;
   Overflow parking plans;
   Park and ride services; and
   Additional parking supply.

5.1       Suggested Beach Parking Demand Management
Alongside the more general recommendations around parking at study areas, attention also needs to be given
to management of peak temporal demands for beach access. There is an expectation that beach parking should
be free or managed differently as it is a “fundamental Australian right” to access the beach. However, a number
of tensions exist when considering expanding the supply of beachfront parking, most notably that the more
parking provided, the more sensitive and valuable beachfront land must be taken up for parking. Moreover,
demand for beachfront parking is highly seasonal, and often people travel in groups or families in one vehicle
to access the beach. Beachfront parking should therefore be treated like any other parking, and managed when
there is high demand. If it is not managed appropriately, it will result in parking supply being oversaturated,
which impacts businesses (i.e. cafes and restaurants) in the area, and ultimately reduces access and convenience.

There may be potential in some centres to apply seasonal time-limits, particularly where demands are highly
seasonal, however, where parking demands consistently exceed the ideal 85% utilisation, priced parking should
be considered. Signs should be used to identify off-street parking within walking distance that is a lower price.
Often peak demand for beach parking will be during weekends or school holidays, so workplace / school parking
areas could potentially be used to accommodate peak demands. Revenue can be used to improve access to the
beach through targeted shuttle or additional public transport services from external parking areas.

Beach front parking should be explicitly considered in each parking management plan for centres with a beach.
Specific solutions centres with beach activities or temporal parking demand have been discussed where relevant.




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