ARE car spaces such a rare commodity at Chermside that they're...

ARE car spaces such a rare commodity at Chermside that they're worth paying for?

During the week, the answer appears to be no, despite claims by the Westfield Group that the introduction of paid parking at the northside centre this Monday is to relieve pressure on its 6200 spaces from city commuters.

On Thursday, The Courier-Mail found undercover and rooftop parks within a couple of minutes for most of the day.

We searched for parks every hour from 9am until 3pm at the busy Banfield St entrance for David Jones, Target and Myer.

The only exception was at 10am, when it took eight minutes to find a park undercover within 50m of a travelator.

Finding anyone happy about the fact that Brisbane's busiest shopping centre is about to charge us to park is far more difficult.

Websites have sprung up, a Facebook page called Queenslanders against paying for parking at Chermside has well over 13,000 likes, and resentment has simmered on talkback radio and in online comments on The Courier-Mail's website.

The Hebberd family of Kedron were among the many to voice their protest.

"We don't want to come back here if we have to pay for parking," said Jenny Hebberd, shopping with an extended family of six.

But if the strong protests from Queenslanders have stung Westfield, the company is not letting on.

Westfield has confirmed paid parking will also be introduced at Westfield Carindale in March next year, with union speculation Garden City, Strathpine and North Lakes will be next.


Eftpos was free once i bet the banks can see a trend starting in shopping centres .Not hard to imagine the income from car parking.One to keep an eye on as to how it developes.