Changes are on the horizon for one of Perth’s busiest free car parks, and the impact could be felt far and wide.

What seemed like a routine decision has quickly sparked controversy and left many commuters wondering what’s next.

As the clock ticks down to a major transformation, the details behind this shift are making waves across the city.

Perth's Queens Gardens free car park, one of the city's largest, will close later this year to make way for a new primary school.

By October, commuters who used the 497-bay car park in East Perth were required to find alternative parking.

The space would be levelled for the construction of East Perth Primary School.

Perth's Queens Gardens car park to close for school construction. Image Source: Western Australian Government

Initially, Education Minister Toni Buti announced the car park would close this week, but Premier Roger Cook clarified that it would remain open for the next nine months.

‘The vast majority of this site will be available until October, we will be doing early site works relocating power supply for power services, and things like that, but parking will continue to be free here for the foreseeable future,’ Cook confirmed.

The primary school’s preliminary construction work was set to begin this week.

East Perth Primary School was expected to open in 2029, with a capacity for 600 students.

Cook also mentioned: ‘We promised a new primary school for families in the inner city – and we’re getting on with it.’

The school’s opening would help ease the pressure on surrounding schools, he added.

Perth’s Queens Gardens car park, which had been free to use, was now slated for redevelopment.

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas had previously criticised the state government’s decision to reject a proposal for the city to manage the parking lot.

Zempilas believed the site could have generated $650,000 in parking fees.

The shift in parking options isn’t the only issue commuters are facing—private car park fines are becoming a growing concern.

As parking spaces become more limited, many are left wondering if those fines are truly enforceable or just another way to drain your wallet.

In a previous story, we explored the ins and outs of private car park fines and what you really need to know before paying up. Curious? Read it here!

Key Takeaways

• Perth's Queens Gardens free car park will close later this year to make way for the construction of East Perth Primary School.
• The 497-bay car park in East Perth will remain open until October, with early site works starting soon.
• The new school, set to open in 2029, will have a capacity of 600 students and ease pressure on nearby schools.
• Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas criticised the rejection of a city-managed proposal, claiming the site could generate $650,000 in parking fees.

What do you think about this change? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[Luckyus]

And English, will be a second optional language?

 

[bluesbrother]

Cer park to school. That can only be regarded as a good thing.

 

[Towing]

I wonder if the school is going to use the complete site.....or whether a small section could still be used as a school carpark. Until a certain age children have to be taken to and taken from their actual classroom.
Parents / Guardians/Carers who have to do that need plenty of parking close by. In bad weather they don't want to have to literally walk to and from a few streets away because they weren't there at least 1/2 hour early. We have done it at a school in Adelaide northern suburbs. It is more inconvenient if you also have a newborn in wet or very hot weather

 

[DLHM]

I didn’t know Perth had any free public car parks (apart from shopping centres but more of them are charging too).

 

[Soxylox]

More people will have to find alternative transport unfortunately. At times like this, I'm glad I live in a small country town