Fewer cars, more innovation as state government reveals blueprint for Newcastle parking.

FULL: The state government wants to reduce Newcastle's reliance on cars.

CARS should be "intercepted" before entering the city centre, time limits on street parking should be slashed and Uber-style surge-based pricing for car parks should be introduced, the state government has recommended in a push designed to curb Newcastle's reliance on cars.

The state government also wants Novocastrians to embrace "car-sharing" schemes, walk or ride a bike to work and – ultimately – use public transport.

The recommendations were contained in Revitalising Newcastle's long-awaited parking strategy, which saw transport planning consultants called in to investigate parking trends in the CBD, and serves as a vision the state government wants the council to act on to bring the city in line with global trends.

The report said an "over-supply" of long-term parking encouraged people to get behind the wheel nearly all the time, which led to a "perceived pressure" on parking supply.

It recommended the council take a new approach on parking fees and time limits, which includes dynamic or surge-based pricing that adjusts according to demand.

It also advised a "moderate" increase in new parks, namely in the West End, where a public-private partnership was encouraged.

The report was immediately criticised by Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, who said it was a "very light-on document" that failed to address other parking pinch points such as Hamilton, while a public transport advocate believed the strategies would discourage people from visiting the city centre altogether.

However, Revitalising Newcastle program director Michael Cassel said "proactive and innovative" responses were needed so that "Newcastle doesn't end up with more traffic, more congestion and frustrated commuters". 

"This is why we were happy to work with council to help develop this parking strategy," he said.

INCREASING public transport patronage is a key focus of the state government's strategy, and aims to "progressively" encourage public transport use particularly through the introduction of park and ride locations outside the city centre, so that residents in outer suburbs don't have to bring their car inside the CBD.

BUSY: A car park on Honeysuckle Drive during the week.

The report said park and ride locations should be aligned with bus and ferry routes, which will be reviewed in 2018 under Keolis Downer, the future operator of Newcastle's public transport system.

The report makes note there would be "faster, more direct buses" and the future light rail network was set to move 1200 people an hour between Wickham and Pacific Park.

However, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said the 11-page report was "light on detail", and predominantly focused on the city centre and not other parking pinch points including Hamilton.

Mr Crakanthorp said a "true" light rail network would extend beyond Hunter Street and out to the western suburbs.

"That's where it needs to be," he said.

Public transport advocate Darrell Harris predicted the government's planned public transport network would be too slow and inconvenient, and said discouraging car use under that system would be problematic. 

"People will just say why bother," he said. 

Mr Harris also queried the report's claim that there would be a net increase of 196 spaces as a result of transport-related projects.