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Woden revolting

woden parking

THE business folk of Phillip are up in arms over the expansion of paid parking into their worlds.

The are promising the biggest gathering ever seen in Phillip!

From: Robert Issell [mailto:robert@phillipbusiness.com.au]
Sent: Monday, 9 May 2016 6:03 PM
Subject: Re: PAID PARKING AT PHILLIP

Please join the group discussion here at https://www.facebook.com/groups/phillipbusiness/ and our facebook page https://business.facebook.com/phillipbusiness/

Also a Petition at Say No to Paid Parking In Phillip

We are also preparing a Petition Form for all our Employees & Business Owners to fill in and sign as well.

This Thursday 12th May – Phillip Day at 5 pm in Dundas Court West for an all in Photo and Video Shoot. (Hopefully the rain is gone by then – But we will brave it anyway)

Hopefully, we can get some of the media along as well. If not we have our own members who are Photographers and Video Production Studios to capture plenty of photos and footage for our protest..

This gathering will hopefully be the biggest ever seen in Phillip. Please invite and share with anyone interested in stopping this nonsense.

I have also sent this email last Friday on behalf of the Phillip Business Community Inc.,:

Dear Chief Minister Andrew, Ministers and Members of the ACT Legislative Assembly

It was very disappointing to be told by the media yesterday that a decision had been made regarding the installation of Paid Parking Meters into the whole of Phillip.

The consultation process that was started by you in September last year was to look at all the issues relating to parking in the Phillip Business District area south of Hindmarsh Drive. We were also told in March by Gary Rake that we would be given a report on the finding for further discussion before any decisions were made. This is obviously not the case and the interests of Traders and Employees of Phillip is not important any more.

I have received just two phone calls for a brief discussion since this process commenced, one from Gary Rake after I requested a response and one from Capital Works Design & Delivery staff member saying, “As discussed we are currently updating our plans in order to commence discussions with the Phillip traders and community. I will be in touch again once we have finalised our plans to set a date for discussions.”

This does not amount to consultation with the Phillip Business Community or with me that Minister Fitzharris mentioned on radio yesterday.

Comments like ” Paid Parking will be expanded in the Phillip commercial precinct from 1 July, 2016 to better manage parking demand from the Woden Town Centre” does not sit very well with our members and the employees of our members who will be directly affected in their hip pocket by this decision.

I have been contacted by a number of large employers and small business owners in this area who are very concerned about this decision and the financial impact it will directly have on their employees and their business. There are also many other issues behind such as being able to hire staff in the first place.

One Employer in particular has 200 employees and is very concerned about the impact on his business. He says, “Many of his employee’s drive to work and will now incur an impost of $45 per 5 day week for 48 weeks equalling $2,160 per annum and a fair % of their wages as a large number are either apprentices or part-time supporting families.”

Here are comments received from just a few and there will be many more:

“Our clients did find Phillip an advantage in having no paid parking. The article in the Canberra times read as if Phillip Business community sought it because of the numbers of public servants or full time workers using Phillip as an option for parking. Our clients will not like this.” – Solicitor

“We as a business find this absolutely appalling. We own a mechanic shop so we have numerous cars a day parking at our place of work now do we foot the parking? Will we lose business as customers don’t want to pay $9 a day? This is absolutely ridiculous. Not happy at all! ACT government making it hard for small businesses again ? ” – Mechanic

“As a building owner in the business community in Phillip, I think we should unite all traders and owners in Phillip to show the Labour ministers in charge Mr Gentleman and Ms Fitzharris our disgust in the way they have treated us and their lack of interest in our business community.

The ACT Government in all its years in power has done very little to nothing in Phillip to help traders or to reinvigorate the area. Our Rates and services have increased dramatically over the years and many businesses and traders have found it hard and have closed their doors.

I believe with paid parking, this will have a drastic effect on all businesses in the Phillip business area. If paid parking is inevitable then we should be pushing for the first 1 or 2 hour to be free in the Phillip business area no different to the shopping centres to help maintain and hopefully bring people to the business area. ” – Builder and Landlord

“Hi Robert. thinking a little more about this issue. I think it will be a nail in the coffin for my business. .where my classes run 2 1/2 hrs.. I have 5 parks at the back and need 2 for me. I am not happy Jan! Then theres the people waiting at the medical centre..for hours waiting for an appt. .mostly people stressed already.
I will seriously be thinking relocation.” – Art Studio and Gallery

“We are very sad that the government has gone ahead with the paid parking. As a car detailer this means we will have to pay for parking for every single car we have parked here to get work done on it. That means we will be forking out anywhere from $100-$200 a day on parking. Which isn’t a tax write off for us small business owners. that’s been $500-$1000 a week we now need to fork out. ” – Car Detailer

“It’s an absolute disgrace!

What is the ACT Government doing to support local businesses in the area! I have 50 full time staff on site at our Philip Toyota and Lexus dealerships and we have approx. 80 customers visit us daily! This new parking cost now adds pressure on retaining staff and losing these potential guests. Making a decision like this without proper consultation shows the arrogance and disregard the ACT Government has towards local business!” – Car Dealership

“Your decision to implement these fees is likely to present just another barrier to healthcare for our patients. We offer long consultations to ensure that patients receive adequate education and advice. Clients regularly attend for ongoing help. Are you aware that in your efforts to collect parking fees the effect will be felt in the health sector through the non-attendance for follow-up of our patients? Clients may now experience ongoing morbidity and reduced quality of life. If you don’t think that possible I contend that you haven’t worked recently with pensioners and people on low incomes.” – Health Care Professional

“Concerns……Commonwealth Motors runs a large Motor Dealership employing 80 people all of which drive a vehicle to work. Whilst we are able to provide some employee parking on site there is nowhere near enough room on site to accommodate everyone. The paid parking will have a hugely negative effect on our business on a day to day basis. This appears to be purely a money grabbing exercise by the government that will adversely affect business in the Phillip area. We request that an impact study be done on the effect of this on business before any decision to proceed is made.” – Motor Dealership

I have also received many phone calls and text messages as well.

The Medical Clinic, other health professionals, Education Facilities with low-income trainees and students will all be adversely affected.

The list goes on and your decision will drive more people away from the already depressed area of Phillip.

Landlords still pay very high rates which are not put back into the area either.

I trust you will consider this matter seriously as our members do and give it the attention that it deserves.

Kind Regards

Robert Issell

President

Phillip Business Community

Level 1 – 61 Dundas Court

Phillip ACT 2606

0412 323438

robert@phillipbusiness.com.au

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