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

                                                                                                          Noosa Council
                                                                                     Noosa Car Parking Study 2017 - 2032
                                                                                                            Final Report


   Scotland has developed national planning policies for maximum parking ratios for commercial
    developments, which range from 1 carpark per 14m2 to 30m2 GFA;
   Portland is the only urban area within this sample which has applied area caps;
   Brisbane applies maximum parking ratios in both its defined central city area (at 1 carpark per 200m2 GFA)
    and in suburban centres (at 1 carpark per 20m2 GFA on the ground level and 1 carpark per 33m2 GFA above
    ground level). Suburban centre parking maximums only apply to developments that are within 400m of a
    railway station or bus way station; and
   All urban areas in this sample applied maximum parking ratios. Maximum parking ratios are by far the most
    common strategy to limit parking supply.


In terms of site caps, Wellington City provides an example of where site caps are implemented in suburban
centres. Policy 7.3.4 of the District Plan states: “Any activity or the erection of buildings or structures involving
the provision of more than 120 spaces per site is a Discretionary Activity (Restricted) in respect of: The generation
of vehicular traffic.”

Despite the benefits of maximum parking rates, it is acknowledged that the implementation of limits on parking
supply would also require consideration of the following factors:
   Vehicle intensive development is encouraged to locate on the edge of town centres and growth corridors
    and is therefore inaccessible by alternative transport modes;
   The cost of parking is inflated to the point where it compromises the competitiveness of the Noosa centres
    and is prohibitive to those on low incomes.


It is recognised that exceeding maximum limits may be justified in rare cases, although the onus is always on
the developer to investigate and implement certain parking strategies where practicable and cost-effective.

An advantage of implementing parking maximums is that the regulatory framework provides opportunities to
engage with potential developers and transport professionals about the relative costs and benefits of parking,
as well as discuss opportunities for alternative arrangements (i.e. sharing parking facilities. This education may
have important flow on effects to future developments, both inside and outside the areas defined by town
centres and growth corridors.

Noosa Shire Council currently implements parking minimums. While the application of parking maximums
would likely be a longer-term strategy, parking maximums remove the possibility of council provided incentives
for non-parking infrastructure and service investment. Additionally, such a change in policy should be gradually
introduced to ensure that an appropriate maximum parking rate is set. Finally, it is acknowledged that the
implementation of parking maximums inhibits the applicability of voluntary “Infrastructure Agreements”.

It is therefore recommended that Noosa Shire Council gradually transition to parking maximums by shifting
firstly to a bounded upper and lower parking requirement (i.e. a maximum and minimum) before finally
removing minimum requirements altogether in specific locations. Noosa currently has reduced minimum
parking requirements for business uses within Business Centre Zones, Neighbourhood Centre Zones or Village
Mix Zone. These zones could present an opportunity to apply parking maximums in the longer term.

6.2.1.3 Transferable parking entitlements

Transferable parking entitlements (TPE) make limits on parking supply more flexible within a town centre or
growth corridor, by allowing new developments which provide less parking than the permitted maximum to sell
their “surplus” parking entitlements to another development who wishes to provide more car-parks than allowed



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