Karrinyup Shopping Centre: Staff forced to park off-site again as parking crunch continues
Karrinyup Shopping Center staff will once again be directed to park elsewhere during the busy Christmas period, with the centre’s car park set to shrink by 170 bays in the coming weeks.
Karrinyup Shopping Centre’s owners, UniSuper, have submitted a development application to the City of Stirling to continue using the oval at Karrinyup Primary School as a temporary overflow area for off-site staff parking in a bid to ease congestion in the centre.
If approved, this regulation, which has been in place for more than a decade, would allow approximately 411 cars to be parked at the school from mid-December to the end of the year and continue until the end of 2029.
The oval car park will remain for the use of Karrinyup Shopping Center staff only and will not be open to the public.
Given that the school oval is a kilometer walk from the shopping centre, some concerns have been raised about the impact of the summer heat on staff’s walking commutes.
Speaking to PerthNow, Karrinyup Shopping Center General Manager Trudy Cook confirmed the shuttle bus service will continue to transport staff between the two sites.
“Karrinyup Shopping Center prioritizes the welfare and safety of all customers and staff throughout the busy Christmas period,” Ms Cook said.
“This long-standing arrangement, which has been in place for over a decade, also includes an air-conditioned bus service running every 15 minutes to help manage increased customer footfall while maintaining the comfort and convenience of staff.”
Also speaking to PerthNow, Stirling mayor Mark Irwin acknowledged concerns about staff walking from off-site locations, particularly in the warmer months, but said the city was working closely with the center to implement temporary off-site parking arrangements.
Mr Irwin also encouraged staff, shoppers and commuters to plan ahead and revealed parking improvements could be on the horizon.
“The city is aware that there is increased demand for parking at Karrinyup Shopping Center during peak holiday periods,” he said.
“We encourage people to use public transport wherever possible, use extended opening hours, be considerate of people living around the mall by not blocking driveways and footpaths, and be patient over the busy Christmas period.
“The owners of Karrinyup Shopping Center have plans to create additional parking on site.”
Currently, the mall has 4,683 constructed car bays; This is below the maximum allowed number of 4880.
However, this number is expected to drop temporarily with the construction of the Karrinyup West housing development, which the city is trying to impose conditions on due to concerns about reduced car parking and increased traffic, putting further pressure on available spaces.
City of Stirling senior planning officer Karina Bowater warned State planning officials earlier this year that parking shortages would worsen problems in the area.
“There are well-documented issues with parking and access to the Karrinyup Shopping Center site and significant parking issues have been reported in the media since the opening of the expanded shopping centre,” Ms Bowater said.
“The proposed allocation will likely exacerbate these parking problems.”
Traffic congestion and safety issues have impacted the mall’s surrounding area following the completion in 2021 of an $800 million redevelopment that nearly doubled the center’s size.
In response, the City of Stirling implemented an area-wide parking scheme covering 18 paths near the shopping centre.
The schedule includes a two-hour maximum limit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with exemptions for residents. The council believes parking controls are working effectively.
Residents have until Oct. 27 to provide feedback on the proposal to continue using the Karrinyup Elementary School oval for staff parking before the city makes a decision.
