THE City of Swan will be advertising a payment in lieu of parking plan for the Ellenbrook town centre where parking is expected to be placed under considerable pressure once the Ellenbrook train station opens.

A May 8 officer’s report presented to the City of Swan council said it had been identified that there were still a number of sites to be developed in the Ellenbrook town centre which may look to utilise cash in lieu of parking.

In August 2019 then planning minister Rita Saffioti, as part of planning reform, called for a consistent policy for payment in lieu of car parking in established town centres, retail-café corridors and other commercial and mixed-use centres.

The preparation of a payment in lieu of parking plan to enable the collection of cash in lieu for parking became a requirement for local governments in July 2021.

Cash in lieu is only applicable for non-residential development that requires development approval and where a parking space shortfall of at least two bays applies, according to the amended planning and development (local planning schemes) regulations 2015 – part 9a provisions about car parking.

“Further, in considering a parking space shortfall, the local government may vary or waive on-site parking requirements or determine that all or only a portion of the variation is to be subject to a condition requiring cash in lieu of on-site parking,” the provisions said.

In February 2023, the city engaged consultants, WSP, to prepare a parking management plan and payment in lieu of parking plan for the Ellenbrook town centre.

On May 8 the council approved the draft Ellenbrook town centre payment in lieu of parking plan (PILPP) for public advertising.

“Once the PILPP has been advertised and is presented back to council for final adoption, an update to the schedule of fees and charges will be required,’’ the officer’s report said.

“A new fee reflective of the cost per bay in accordance with the method of calculation provided by the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage will need to be introduced.

“At this stage the proposed fee, based on a 500sqm infrastructure cost for constructing parking is $7500 and will be reviewed before being presented to the council with the final report on the PILPP and annually thereafter.’’