The Property Council of Australia is calling on CBD-based business owners and workers to voice their objection to the Brisbane City Council’s proposed $400-per-bay car parking levy, saying it would increase the cost for those who require their cars for work-related purposes.
Property Council Queensland executive director Robert Walker has urged those relying on the CBD for their livelihood to object to the parking levy, which was a vital element in the Council’s
Transport Plan for Brisbane 2002-2016, released by Lord Mayor Jim Soorley last month.
The parking tax is just one measure to raise the $3.8 billion shortfall of funding required for the plan over the next 15 years.
"Those of us that work in the city are being unfairly treated by the Council by imposing an inequitable ‘solution’ on a small few, to pay for the problems of everyone," Mr Walker said.
"The Lord Mayor states that it is just $1 per day per car parking bay, however he fails to take into account that in other capital cities such as Sydney, where this levy has been introduced, this has quickly risen to four times the original levy.
"The introduction of a levy would achieve little in the area of travel demand management and adversely affect property investment in the CBD," he said.
"The Brisbane CBD is the economic, social and retail hub of Queensland. Increasing the cost of entering the CBD will drive people out."
He added that the introduction of the proposed car parking levy would still see the Council fall short on its necessary funding, providing around only $14 million each year.
"For those business owners who base themselves in the city, the tax will translate into higher rents, higher costs for employees and thus making it difficult to attract staff to work in the city.
"That is why we are calling on businesses and their employees to contact the Lord Mayor’s office or their local councillor to voice their objection to the introduction of the new tax," he said.
