Words | Drew Johnson | Manly Chamber of Commerce President

It is fair to say that the Chamber shared some of the initial concerns about the financial aspects of demolishing Whistler Street car park and the construction of a new car park under Manly Oval.  Althogh following the earlier KPMG review of the costs/financials, and the subsequent successful tender process, we are now fully supportive of the Proposal.  

The Manly 2015 Plan is a very important upgrade to the infrastructure in the Manly CBD, with the improved pedestrian areas, and reduced traffic in the centre (by locating our main car park on the ring road).  The existing Whistler Street car park would require many millions of dollars just to bring it up to current fire safety and access codes, and we would still be left with an ugly structure, with small car spaces, very low clearances and very narrow tight ramps (and much reduced parking numbers).   It would be very difficult to mount an argument that it should be retained, long term, as one of our major car parks.

The Manly Chamber of Commerce is now keen to ensure the community understands the history of our “voluntary” Parking Levy, and its role in funding the parking facilities we now have in Manly.  The same Levy, which is now known as the Special Levy, has also been used to fund a portion of the Oceanfront Promenade improvements, and all of the recent Corso up-grade. 

History of Manly CBD Parking Levy and current Special Levy:

This levy commenced, in the early 1960’s, when the local commercial ratepayers and businesses approached Manly Council, to establish a fund to acquire land for additional parking in the CBD.   It was a voluntary levy, and was initially used to acquire land in Wentworth Street, Central Avenue and Short Street.  These levy funds, combined with Parking Contributions received from Developers, were used to help fund the construction of the Whistler Street car park.   Subsequently, all these sites were developed and public car parks were included in the new developments (i.e.  Manly National Building, Pacific Waves and the Peninsular Development). Manly Council also received over $17million from the developers of the Peninsular project.

Manly is very fortunate that our commercial ratepayers (and former Councillors), had the foresight to initiate the voluntary levy used to acquire these sites that now provide almost 1,100 car spaces.  Comparable locations such as Bondi and Cronulla did not benefit from the same forward thinking commercial businesses/owners, and now suffer major parking problems.

As mentioned, the Parking Levy was changed about 18 years ago to a “Corso and Oceanfront Improvement Levy” and is now known as the Commercial Special Levy.  This change was made at the time by Mayor Sue Sacker, who said that we cannot afford to acquire more land for parking, or build more parking, and changed the nature of the Levy, without any real consultation with the ratepayers who were paying the Levy (which was as we point out a “voluntary” levy).

The Levy now raises over $1million per annum, and was increased 11 years ago to allow Council to fund The Corso upgrade.  At that time the Chamber was seeking an upgrade of The Corso, the state of which was a complete embarrassment to the local business community (and local residents).   Council advised they had no funds for the up-grade, and we were asked by General Manager, Henry Wong, whether we would support a doubling of the Levy for 10 years to fund the Upgrade.  The Manly Chamber consulted with our members and with the majority supporting a doubling of the Levy, we wrote a letter acknowledging this support, for Council to seek approval to the increase from the Minister for Local Government.   The agreed 10 year period for the “doubled “ Levy expired in June 2015, and we believe Council should now revert to the original Levy.  

The public car parks have now become a major revenue source for Manly Council, and over the years we have had to “fight” to retain the 2-hour free parking provided within the car parks.  The public car parks are a very important part of our business infrastructure, and Councils ramping up of the parking fees after the 2-hour free period, in recent years, is of concern to local businesses (who have to compete with Warringah Mall and Stockland Balgowlah with cheaper and more plentiful parking).

As a result of this “Levy” history, we believe the local business community has a very real equity stake in the CBD public car parks.   The on-going management and operation of the car parks is of vital concern to all CBD owners and operators.  We are particularly concerned that the car parks will continue to be managed with the interest of local businesses (and our residents/customers).

In Summary:

The Chamber strongly supports the Manly 2015 Plan, and in particular the need to replace the very poorly designed, ugly, and now obsolete Whistler Street Car Park.   The suggestion by the Planners involved in the Manly 2015 Plan, that Council look at relocating this parking under the Manly Oval, now has the Chambers full support.   Modern CBD traffic planning principles also support the positioning of major public car parks on the roads - leading into major commercial and tourist centres, or on the ring roads, to avoid vehicular congestion in the pedestrian friendly areas.   

The 2015 Plan, with new pedestrian areas and a modern 500+ space car park under the oval, will revitalise the western section of the CBD.     The new car park, even with the 2-hour free parking, will generate very significant revenue for Council over the next 20-30 years.   The fact that the new car park will be paid for by the sale of a 99 years lease over the “triangular” site in Whistler Street and Market Lane, is a very satisfactory outcome in our view.

The Chamber sees the removal of the “obsolete” Whistler Street car park, and redevelopment of that location, as a very important part of the Manly 2015 Plan.   The development proposed by the Built & Athas Holdings appear to be very attractive, including some very worthwhile community assets.   

We urge the Manly community to show their support of this project, by sending letters of support to:

Northern Beaches Council
REF: DA116/2016
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. OR
PO Box 82
MANLY NSW 1655

We thank you for your willingness to support a better future for Manly.