VISITORS to the Guilderton foreshore will have to pay for parking in a move, which could make it difficult for the seaside town to attract custom in the winter months.
But Shire of Gingin chief executive office Jeremy Edwards defended the move to have parking meters installed and operational by December 23.
Mr Edwards said the $25,000 the shire had estimated it would collect from the meters would be used to off-set the costs associated with maintaining the foreshore during the very busy summer season.
He said the number of visitors in summer required additional rubbish collection, ablution and facilities cleaning and lawn maintenance.
“The meter system will also help to control the often chaotic parking on the Guilderton foreshore during this time,’’ he said.
Yanchep News Online has been told there are concerns the parking meters, which Mr Edwards confirmed would collect revenue all-year round, would deter people from visiting during the much quieter months.
Mr Edwards said the shire had not carried out any surveys to establish if visitors to Guilderton would be put off by having to pay for parking.
There will be seven free parking bays for Guilderton General Store customers to use.
Mr Edwards said there was no plan to put parking meters in other parts of Guilderton and no plan at this stage to put parking meters in other coastal towns such as Lancelin or Seabird.
The council in October voted unanimously to accept a quote of $365,346 (plus GST) submitted by Curnow Group Pty Ltd for the construction of the Guilderton foreshore boat ramp finger jetty, carpark upgrade and paid parking station (stage 2), including an asphalt finished surface to the carpark.
The council minutes said a project brief, including comprehensive specifications, was advertised on September 30 and sent to Central Earthmoving Company Pty Ltd, Curnow Group Pty Ltd, Marine and Civil Pty Ltd, Neo Infrastructure, Porter Consulting Engineers and Worley Parsons.
Submissions had closed on October 14, with only one quote being received from Curnow Group Pty Ltd.
