Are CBD Car Parks’ Days Numbered?
In 2015, Australian central business districts contained 160,086 non-residential car parking spaces, explained Victoria Tavendale, National Manager and Asset Management Office and Industrial for Mirvac.
Three years on, the emergence of transport related technology including: rideshare, carshare and electric vehicles, have pushed property developers to question the need for CBD car parking structures.
The Property Council’s CCRE Breakfast: Are CBD Car Parks’ Days Numbered? Held Tuesday 5 June at Herbert Smith Freehills, addressed the implication these changes will have on traditional office developments and their existing parks.
Mitchell Baxter, Charging Manager of Australia and New Zealand for Tesla strongly urged developers to consider including charging networks during the planning process. Having these capabilities in the workplace will become increasingly important, as more people turn towards electronic vehicles, he explained.
Josh Brydges, Locations and Transportation Planner for GoGet – Australia’s largest car share service, reinforced the growing demand for convenient car rentals in CBD locations. “It’s a shift away from private ownership” he stated.
GoGet strives for a ‘vehicle on demand system’, where one card can cover the variety of infrastructure, rideshare and carshare options available and the consumer can choose the option best suited to their current need.
Josh stressed the importance of a combined transport approach to improve the ease and convenience of commuting, “I’m really excited Brisbane has decided to build the Metro” he added.
In a panel discussion moderated by Matt Miller, Regional Manager of Queensland and Commercial Urban Regeneration for Lendlease and Chair of the Property Council’s CCRE Committee, Mitchell, Josh and Victoria addressed the future of existing car parks.
The shift away from private vehicle ownership, combined with convenient infrastructure developments and focus on health and wellbeing, is pushing individuals to abandon their car parks, explained Victoria.
“If you could tap into these car parks, you could use them for more efficient assets” added Josh.
Panel members were in agreeance that existing spaces should be redesigned into other profitable establishments, including: storage areas, gyms, yoga studios, shopping centres and art galleries.
Victoria emphasised that property developers should design car parks for present consumer needs, with the intention of easily redeveloping in the future.
The Property Council would like to thank Mitchell, Josh, Victoria and Matt for their informative discussion, Mirvac for sponsoring the event and Herbert Smith Freehills for generously hosting.
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