Victoria could scrap car parking requirements for new apartment blocks near public transport hubs in a bid to reduce the cost of residential developments and ease traffic congestion.
The state’s transport department completed a discussion paper late last year that considered reforms to car parking and bicycle facilities. The proposals, first reported by the Age, include removing minimum car parking in areas a short walking distance from public transport.
The paper, which has been sent to some councils for feedback, estimate that a car parking space in a residential development could add up to $50,000 to the cost of an apartment.
It proposed a policy aligned to a new rating system for an area’s “public transport accessibility level” (Ptal) – based on walking distance to a route – and removing or refining minimum car parking.
Areas with better Ptal rates could include those within or adjacent to Melbourne city, and some major suburban and regional areas. It could also include those with good access to multiple modes of public transport.
Victoria’s planning minister, Sonya Kilkenny, on Thursday confirmed the department had undertaken consultation with some councils regarding car parking requirements.
“I’ll let them do their work,” she told reporters. “We’ll have a look at what comes back with that.”
Kilkenny said the government was focused on its target of 800,000 new homes over the next decade.
“We want to pull every lever we can to ensure we reach that target,” she said.
The paper pointed to an analysis of planning permit applications received between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022, showing 862 new or amended planning permits were issued to waive or reduce car parking requirements.
The average number of days for deciding on one of these applications was 121 days.
“The current car parking requirements also result in the need to allocate land for car parking in areas where it may not be required, leading to inefficient use of limited available land which could be better utilised for housing, employment or open space,” the paper said.
If an area’s Ptal area was high, maximum car parking spaces requirement would apply. Those with a low rating would retain minimum car parking requirements.
It also proposed updating car parking rates to align with public transport accessibility and adopting new minimum rates and design standards for bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities.
In a submission to the paper, the Municipal Association of Victoria said modernising car and bike parking requirements and introducing a Ptal would align the state’s planning decisions with local and international best practice.
“Local and state planning policy often now directs new homes to transport and services-rich corridors so more people can access jobs and services easily without needing a car,” the association said.
“Meanwhile the car and bicycle parking particular provisions have remained static.”
