Perth councils fear the introduction of paid parking for all bays at train station car parks next month will clog up residential streets as commuters try to avoid paying.

It is currently free to park at most train station car parks but from July 1, every bay will attract a $2 per day fee.

A number of local councils said the shortage of parking bays at train station car parks was already causing headaches for residents living nearby and they feared it was about to get a lot worse once the new charge started.

Bassendean Mayor John Gangell said many people using the main train station car park in his town were from Ellenbrook.

"It’s a huge issue at the moment," he said.

"Already it’s creating massive congestion in our streets and massive chaos. Obviously the bins can’t be collected on rubbish day, people can’t get out of their driveways because people park across them," he said.

"If you’re a family and you’re already struggling to pay your bills, wouldn’t you look to save potentially upwards of $450 by parking in a side street and walking to the train station? So we’ve got to try and avoid that."

Mr Gangell said his council was in the process of introducing a new residential permit parking scheme in an attempt to combat the problem.

"Only people with permits and residents of Bassendean can park in the side residential streets," he said.

"If you don’t have a permit pass and you’re caught parking in a side residential street in Bassendean, you will be fined."

More restrictions, rangers out in force on residential streets



Town of Claremont chief executive Stephen Goode said his council was also concerned about the impact on residential streets and neighbouring facilities.

He estimated about 200 of the 500 cars which parked daily at Claremont train station belonged to people working in nearby shops.

"It is an issue for us," Mr Goode said.

"History tells us that what commuters will try to do is find a place to park in one of the local streets and walk into town or walk to the railway station instead of pay the fine.

"The Public Transport Authority has told us that the non-commuters will not be allowed to park there, whether they pay the fee or not so that’s going to be a major impact, put that together with the people who will try to avoid the $2 fee, that’s 500 cars trying to find a park in the local streets, that’s not going to work.

"Quite close to here is our swimming pool, our golf course, tennis clubs and I can see them being filled up with people trying to avoid the $2 [fee] and we’ll have to respond to that as well.

Mr Gangell said Claremont would examine which streets needed extra restrictions in the form of residential parking permits and more ranger services.

Fees 'will contribute to public transport services'

Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said they were hoping the new fee may actually free up bays because they believed it might stop many who were not Transperth passengers from using its car parks.

He said many people were currently parking in Transperth car parks and walking or riding into work.

"I think when you look at the cost of the land around stations, this is all taxpayer assets, ... 10,000 people are parking there for nothing at a cost to the taxpayer so I don’t think it’s unreasonable that that load is shared," he said.

"It helps contribute to providing the public transport so it’s not too high an impost."

The PTA is encouraging commuters to register their cars for SmartParker which it said would be the easiest and quickest way to pay for parking and works similar to the SmartRider ticket system.

Ticket parking machines will also be available at most train stations but will not be scattered throughout car parks.

The PTA will have officers out enforcing payment, with $50 fines for non-compliance.