University of Tasmania, Australia

General FAQs

Why is UTAS implementing a new parking strategy?

Until now, UTAS has subsidised much of the parking available at all campuses. Continuing to provide subsidised parking compromise UTAS’ capacity to provide quality parking services and infrastructure to meet growing demand. Subsidised parking is inconsistent with the objectives of the University’s Sustainable Transport Strategy 2012-2016 as well as Open to Talent’s vision of sustainability that seeks to reduce environmental impacts, achieve economic efficiency and demonstrate social responsibility.

Funds formerly used to subsidise parking will be diverted to support UTAS core functions of teaching and research.

Is there free parking on campus?

Yes, there are currently 927 spaces across all campuses (including the Cradle Coast Campus). Some of these spaces (largely at Newnham and Sandy Bay campuses) will be converted to paid parking spaces from mid August 2013.

A car parking section at each of the Sandy Bay and Newnham campuses will be allocated as free parking for the sole use of UTAS students. Students will be able to collect a permit sticker for a nominal fee from Campus Services that will allow them to seek a space in these free student-parking zones.

Does parking revert to being free during the semester breaks and summer holidays?

No, paid parking is in place all year round with the exception of public holidays. Note that during semester breaks, staff holding a current parking permit will be able to access voucher parking spaces and student parking spaces without having to purchase a voucher.

Why has the University increased the parking prices? 

In consideration of environmental, financial and other factors, UTAS is introducing staggered rises over the next two and a half years.

UTAS has been subsidising car parking prices for many years. This is not a financially viable strategy, nor does it help the University promote sustainable and environmentally sound transport practices as articulated in its Sustainable Transport Strategy 2012-2016.

UTAS has opted to encourage use of other modes of transport to reduce demand for parking. A corollary of this will be protection of the natural environment and a reduction in our environmental footprint.

Who is required to pay?

Staff, students and visitors between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, throughout the year, with the exception of public holidays. A car parking section at each of the Sandy Bay and Newnham campuses will be allocated as free parking for the sole use of UTAS students. Students will be able to collect a permit sticker for a nominal fee from Campus Services that will allow them to seek a space in these free student-parking zones.

During semester breaks, staff holding a current parking permit will be able to access voucher parking spaces and free parking spaces without having to purchase a voucher.

Are students and staff with a disability required to pay?

No, anyone who has a valid Australian Disability Parking Permit or Tasmanian Disability Parking Permit is permitted to park in designated disabled parking spaces at no cost.

In addition, staff and students with a temporary or permanent disability who are:

• unable to walk, or 
• are only able to walk short distances (approximately 100 metres) without the assistance of another person or the use of a complex walking aid (such as a wheelchair 

are eligible to apply for a UTAS access parking permit which allows them to park in access parking bays on campus. 

Are there enough access bays on campus?

The Building Code of Australia recommends that 1–2% of parking bays be allocated for access parking. The University currently has 48 access parking bays at Sandy Bay, 22 at Newnham, 3 at Inveresk and 3 at the Cradle Coast Campus. 

Are motorcyclists expected to pay for parking?

No. Motorcycle parking will remain free of charge.

Do other universities charge students and staff for parking?

Yes, most universities have paid parking schemes.

How am I benefitting from the introduction of higher prices?

Revenue raised from the paid parking strategy will be re-invested in improving existing parking on our campuses, improving the public transport options, and investing in sustainable transport initiatives, including those articulated in the UTAS Sustainable Transport Strategy 2012-2016.

What other options are there for me to travel to and from University and what is UTAS doing to improve these options?

The Newnham, Inveresk and Sandy Bay campuses, and Hobart CBD locations are serviced by public transport. We appreciate that current services do not suit all students and staff, and we are currently reviewing options to improve current bus services to the University and between facilities.

The University subsidises bus services, available to all staff and students during teaching semesters, between the Sandy Bay campus and Hobart CBD locations. It is envisaged that this service might extend to include new CBD locations including the IMAS site at Salamanca.

UTAS has increased its investment in alternative forms of transport; for example, provision of additional bike hubs and improvements to campus walkways and cycleways and there are now a number of cycle and pedestrian access points onto most campuses.

Is there a car-pooling incentive scheme?

Staff will be able to share the cost of parking amongst carpooling participants from 2014. 
Spaces will be established within existing staff permit parking areas, with the number and location of spaces to be determined by demand.  Once determined, car-pool spaces will be marked with signage and maps will be available on the UTAS parking web-page.

Groups of two or more current UTAS staff and/or students will be eligible to apply for a car-pool permit, subject to the requirement that each driver in the group holds a valid driver’s licence and can provide proof of vehicle registration.

UTAS has engaged online car-pool matching services CoolPool Tasmania as its preferred carpooling system, so applicants will also be required to maintain a current registration with the CoolPool matching service. Each group will lodge a single joint application and will be issued with a single transferable permit sticker. Car-pool permits will be valid for designated car-pool spaces only.

Cost FAQs

How much will parking cost?

Type of parking	From 1 July 2013	From semester 1, 2014	From semester 1, 2015	From semester 1, 2016
Free parking spaces	Conversion of 528 spaces	Conversion of 179 spaces	Nil	Nil
Voucher parking	$0.50 per hour $4.00 per day	$0.70 per hour $5.60 per day	$0.70 per hour $5.60 per day	$0.70 per hour $5.60 per day
Permit parking on campus HEO 1-4	$95.00 per year $2.10 per week; $0.42 per day	$147.00 per year $3.25 per week; $0.65 per day	$198 per year $4.35 per week; $0.87 per day	$250.00 per year <$5.50 per week; $1.10 per day
Permit parking on campus Other staff	$191.00 per year $4.20 per week; $0.85 per day	$294.00 per year <$6.45 per week; $1.30 per day	$397.00 per year $8.70 per week; $1.80 per day	$500.00 per year <$11.00 per week; $2.20 per day
Executive parking spaces	Standard staff permit rate x 2	Standard staff permit rate x 2	Standard staff permit rate x 2	Standard staff permit rate x 2
Residential parking	Free	$147.00 per calendar year $126.75 per academic year $3.25 per week; $0.65 per day	$198.00 per calendar year $169.65 per academic year $4.35 per week; $0.87 per day	$250.00 per calendar year $214.50 per academic year <$5.50 per week; $1.10
Permit parking in Hobart CBD - HEO 1-4	$1,040.00 per year + CPI	Previous year's fee + CPI	Previous year's fee + CPI	Previous year's fee + CPI
Permit parking in Hobart CBD - other staff	$1,280.00 per year ($26.00 per week; $5.30 per day; $106.70 per month)	$1,520.00 ($31.70 week; $6.35 per day; $126.70 per month)	$1,760.00 ($36.70 per week; $7.35 per day; $146.70 per month)	$2,000.00 ($40 per week; $8.00 per day; $160.00 per month)

 

 Note: The above prices are the salary sacrificed amounts.

How will UTAS seek to minimise the financial impost on staff and students of the new voucher and permit fees?

The new fee structure will be introduced incrementally over the next two and a half years. Parking permit fees for staff at HEO Levels 1-4, casual staff, honorary staff and on-campus student residents will be charged at half the standard rate, while CBD permits for these groups will be based on the current rate, increased annually in line with CPI. 

The new maximum on-campus permit fees of $11 a week (from 2016) will remain cheaper than daily urban bus travel while the CBD permit fee of $40 a week is at the lowest end of the range for comparable spaces operated by Hobart City Council. From 2014, staff will be able to choose to have parking fees deducted from their salaries on a fortnightly basis.

A car parking section at each of the Sandy Bay and Newnham campuses will be allocated as free parking for the sole use of UTAS students. Students will be able to collect a permit sticker for a nominal fee from Campus Services that will allow them to seek a space in these free parking zones.

I work at the Conservatorium in Sandy Bay Road / Centre for the Arts in Hunter Street. Which rate will I have to pay for my parking permit?

You will be required to pay the CBD permit price. Staff from these sites will be offered split payment options to assist them in paying for their permit over the course of the semester.

What are the methods of payment for parking?

Anyone, including students and staff, can pay daily or hourly at the voucher parking machines (machines accept coins only) located in the parking areas.

Residential students will be provided information on payment and permit issuing from Accommodation Services when applying or moving into University accommodation.

Full-time and fractional staff can purchase a permit via the online parking application system (payment by credit card or salary sacrifice).

Sessional, casual and honorary staff can pay daily or hourly at a voucher parking machines. Sessional and honorary staff may purchase a permit via the online system (payment by credit card). Casual staff are required to complete a casual staff permit application form and submit payment via the UTAS Cashier.

FAQs for students

Do I have to pay for the whole day if I plan on only attending for an hour lecture?

Hourly parking vouchers are available in voucher permit areas. A car parking section at each of the Sandy Bay and Newnham campuses will be allocated as free parking for the sole use of UTAS students. Students will be able to collect a permit sticker for a nominal fee from Campus Services that will allow them to seek a space in these free parking zones.

I am a postgraduate student. Am I eligible for a parking permit?

Postgraduate students who, by virtue of their Australian Postgraduate Award (APA) or similar instrument, are required to be on campus full-time will have access to a staff parking permit and will need to complete the casual permit form available on the parking permits page.

As a student, can I purchase a half-yearly or yearly permit?

Reserved space and general staff parking permits are not issued to students (with the exception of PhD students as described above). Pool scheme permits will be available for application by staff and students in 2014. Students will be able to collect a permit sticker from Campus Services that will allow them to seek a space in student-only free parking zones on the Sandy Bay and Newnham campuses.

Why isn't the cost of parking subsidised by the Student Services Amenities Fee (SSAF)?

Legislatively the SSAF pool of funds cannot be used to subsidise student parking. The Student Guild organises a number of services and activities for students using funds derived from the SSAF. For more information on how the SSAF is spent refer to the Student Services website.

How will residential parking be affected by the new strategy?

Residents of on-campus accommodation will be required to pay for parking from the start of 2014. 

Residential parking permits will be charged at the same reduced rate as permits for HEO 1-4 staff. At the Sandy Bay campus the number of permits issued will match the number of available spaces, effectively providing each permit holder with a dedicated space. Permits will be sold on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.  

At the Newnham campus, when all dedicated residential parking is fully occupied, the holder of a residential parking permit will be entitled to park in a voucher parking bay at no additional cost.

As a student of the Tasmanian College of the Arts, will I still be able to apply for a permit to allow me to buy parking vouchers at the Conservatorium / Hunter Street building in Hobart?

Yes. The method for applying for a Tasmanian College of the Arts student permit is detailed on the parking permits page.

Staff FAQs

If I leave the University before my permit expires, can I on-sell the permit?

No, the permit is issued to the person and their nominated cars.

Should I decide to leave the University before my parking permit expires, will any part of the permit fee be refundable?

Yes, from 2014, if you leave the University before your parking permit expires, you will be refunded a pro rata amount starting from the following month after you leave.

What happens to my permit if I take extended leave during its period?

Leave periods of greater than 12 weeks will be considered for refund.

I have paid for parking but sometimes I cannot find an empty car park bay. Why is the University not providing enough car parks on campus?

It is not possible to accurately predict daily demand for parking at each campus, therefore a permit cannot guarantee that a bay will be available. Locating a parking space can often be difficult, particularly at the beginning of semester or during exams. Please note that during semester breaks, staff holding a current parking permit will be able to access voucher parking spaces and free parking spaces without having to purchase a voucher.

Alternative transport is recommended, including cycling, carpooling and public transport.

Given the significantly higher cost of CBD staff parking permits, the number of parking permits will match the number of reserved staff parking spaces available.

What is the procedure for hosting a visitor / volunteer?

Visitors and volunteers are required to purchase a daily or hourly parking voucher. These can be purchased by the visitor or volunteer, or purchased by the faculty, institute or division on their behalf.

Reserved visitor parking bays are available outside some faculty, institute or divisional areas. These parking bays are to be paid for annually by the faculty, institute or division. The cost is the same as the cost of an executive parking permit. The nominated faculty/institute/division will be provided with a temporary visitor parking permit for use in these bays. It is the responsibility of the faculty/institute/division to ensure that visitors display the temporary parking permit in visitor bays.

Are visiting guest lecturers expected to pay for parking?

This cost is to be borne by the faculty/institute/division and is to use the same process as hosting a visitor.

I teach classes that require bulky and/or heavy equipment/materials, and I need to drive across campus to transfer them due to the timetabling and/or location of my classes. What is the University doing to help with this?

Free drop-off zones outside key teaching spaces across UTAS campuses will be established to allow staff to transport materials needed for teaching activities.

I need to use my car for work-related purposes but find it difficult to find a parking spot when I come back to campus. Are there any options under the new strategy to address this issue?

Staff members who are required to use their car for work related purposes can negotiate with their Head of School/Institute/Section for the use of a faculty/division/institute reserved space, which is charged at twice the standard rate.

I hold a substantive fractional appointment as an academic or HEO5+, but due to my fraction I earn less per year than a full-time HEO4. Do I still have to pay the HEO5+ permit rate?

Following feedback from staff, a decision has been taken that the cost of permits for fractional staff will be based on their substantive gross annual salary at the time of application as opposed to their classification, with the threshold maintained at the salary applicable to the top of the HEO 4 classification range (currently $56,483 per annum).

Accordingly, should a staff member earn less than the threshold by virtue of their fraction, they will only be required to pay the HEO1-4 fee rate.

I work part-time, but notice that I can only buy a 'full-time' permit. Can I share my permit with someone else who also works part-time?

Yes. There is nothing to prevent employees from making their own arrangements to share a permit. Please note that shared permits will still be processed, recorded and paid for under one name, so any sharing arrangement would be the staff members’ responsibility.

Will schools and institutes see tangible benefits of rechannelling funds previously used for parking to teaching and research?

A fund will be established and savings from the implementation of the strategy will be used to fund upgrades to priority teaching and learning spaces across the state. Staff will be invited to participate in a forum to discuss the program of upgrades.

I sometimes have to travel to another campus for work purposes. Where can I park when I visit another campus?

Additional centralised visitor parking will be established at the Sandy Bay and Newnham campuses for staff travelling between those campuses and for staff attending the Sandy Bay campus from the CBD.

Enforcement FAQs

Will I be fined if I don't have a current permit or parking voucher?

Yes, to ensure that the system is fair and equitable, paid parking at UTAS is being managed by Campus Services and failure to display a current parking voucher or permit will result in an infringement notice being issued.

Note that during semester breaks, staff holding a current parking permit will be able to access voucher parking spaces and free parking spaces without having to purchase a voucher.

What do I do if I receive a parking infringement notice?

Payment for parking infringements is processed by the Hobart and Launceston city councils. If you wish to lodge an appeal against your parking infringement notice, you will need to contact Campus Services within 5 days of receiving the notice.

 More information about parking infringements is available on the Parking Infringements Appeals page.

What is in place to stop students just parking in the streets surrounding UTAS?

The Hobart City and Launceston City councils are monitoring the impact of parking in these areas and have introduced restricted parking to ensure that residents and businesses in surrounding streets are not adversely affected by paid parking at UTAS.

Infrastructure FAQs

Am I guaranteed to get a parking space if I purchase a permit or parking voucher?

The number of students and staff visiting UTAS each day may exceed the number of spaces available so it cannot be guaranteed that you will find a space. However, given the significantly higher cost of CBD staff parking permits, the number of parking permits will match the number of reserved staff parking spaces available.

Why do the parking voucher machines not accept notes?

This is a security measure to reduce risk.

Will the designated drop-off and pick-up spaces for child care remain in place?

Yes. There is no intention to change the current arrangements for child care drop-off and pick-up spaces.

Why haven’t new fee arrangements been implemented for satellite and regional campuses (such as the Cradle Coast Campus)?

Current arrangements will continue unchanged for satellite and regional campuses, giving recognition to the fact that there is very limited or no public transport servicing the geographically dispersed locations from which students and staff need to travel.

Given public transport is identified as an alternative to bringing my car, what are the options and what is the University doing to develop services?

In order to better understand our requirements, staff will be invited to participate in workshops to explore enhanced public transport options for UTAS employees and students travelling to, from and between campuses and other UTAS sites.

Currently:

• Sandy Bay and Hobart CBD locations are serviced by Metro Tas routes, with the 888, 54 and 55 routes regularly servicing the Sandy Bay campus to and from the Hobart CBD.
• UTAS organises charter services to service northern locations. During Semester 1 and 2, a Redline charter service travels at 5pm from Tuesday to Friday from the Newnham campus to the Launceston CBD transit centre. This service accommodates 42 people and is open to staff and students. Also during Semester 1 and 2, Redline services travel at 6am from the Newnham campus, via Inveresk and the Launceston CBD to Hobart CBD and the Sandy Bay campus (arriving by 8:45am). UTAS also offers charter services between Newnham, Beauty Point and Bell Bay via the AMC.
• Newnham staff and students can use Metro Tas services. One service (#2) links the Launceston CBD with the Newnham campus at regular intervals throughout the day. The 6, 7 and 10 routes run on the George Town Road, which is five blocks from the campus. Metro also provides a single express bus at 08:30 on Monday through Friday during semester time only, linking the Launceston bus mall to Newnham via the East Tamar Highway.

In support of the parking and sustainable transport strategies, the University continues its endeavours to maintain and improve public bus servicing to its facilities, recognising that these services are delivered by external providers and subject to the business constraints and requirements of those providers. Regular conversations with Metro Tas ensure an ongoing review of services state-wide. Specifically, UTAS has been in discussion with Metro, DIER and Hobart City Council to review servicing in the Hobart CBD, resulting in indicative routing and timetable options. In relation to Newnham, discussions are currently underway with Metro regarding the frequency and routing of services and the potential to alter service levels or routing of buses to enter the campus for increased frequency of service.

What considerations are being made around improving parking infrastructure on the Newnham campus?

As part of the process for determining parking infrastructure upgrades, there will be a particular focus on addressing concerns around the quality of car parking at the Newnham campus. In particular, consideration will be given to improved pedestrian access and security, end of journey facilities such as showers, and the aesthetics and level of amenity of the car parks.