AT least 20 per cent of the cheap parking near the Fremantle Passenger Terminal and Railway Station was fenced off this week, leaving some locals outraged at the cost to park their cars.
Last week, The Herald reported that the footbridge at the end of Parry Street was to be demolished after it was closed last year for “known structural risks”.
Forty-four of the 195 bays at the car park were fenced off, presumably for works associated with the bridge’s demolition, although the Public Transport Authority did not specify.
The Transperth bays are famously affordable, costing just $2 a day, meaning they are prime real estate for commuters travelling from the Fremantle area into the city.
• Losing 44 cheap parking bay caught out Freo commuters this week.
Fremantle resident Georgina Thompson* says she rocked up to the carpark for her commute into the city and was “really ticked off” when she realised one fifth of the affordable parking spots were fenced without notice.
“Look, in the scheme of things, it’s absolutely a first-world problem,” Ms Thompson said.
“At the same time, communication goes along a long way, right?”
According to the PTA, the carpark is due to reopen on August 9, but Ms Thompson isn’t happy with the lack of forewarning over its closure.
“A sign or two would have been nice,” she said.
“I would have happily made other arrangements, whether that be to get to the train station a bit earlier or arranging a lift to the station.”
Ms Thompson says she found a City of Fremantle bay close by to park her car, but noted the significant cost increase to use the council service while she works her 9-5 job.
“The cost difference ended up being $9 a day,” Ms Thompson said.
“When governments and councils say that they’re ‘here for you and your cost-of-living pressures’, it’s just a bit rude.
“Even to just know that I was up for over $50 in parking for this week would have been great.
“But, you know, maybe I had woken up on the wrong side of the bed that morning.”
*Disclaimer: Georgina Thompson is a pseudonym as she works for a state government department. She is also a former employee of the Herald.
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER