The lack of car parking spaces in the heart of the city has been a frustration constantly voiced by drivers in Ballarat for many years.

For some motorists, it could be just a case of sheer laziness, where they would prefer to drive around a city block six times before a park became available outside their designated business rather than walk a few blocks.

For others, though, it is a legitimate concern, particularly around the medical precinct.

However, that problem should soon be alleviated with the completion of the multi-storey car park at Ballarat Health Services Base Hospital.

But an outpouring of complaints is expected from the Ballarat public after a price hike in the cost of parking a vehicle in Ballarat.

From July 1 this year, the City of Ballarat raised the hourly rate from $1.40 to $1.60 (an increase of 15 per cent), while the daily rate went up from $5 to $5.50 (a 10 per cent increase).

About 90 per cent of the parking meters have been changed to meet the price hike, while the remainder will be rolled out in coming weeks.

On the surface, these hikes look quite minimal, but for those motorists who regularly/daily need to park in or near the CBD, the latest increase is substantial and only adds to the rise in the cost of living along many other facets of life. With thousands of people converging on the CBD each day for work and many more thousands visiting the city for shopping or businesses purposes, this is a hike they can least afford.

This is just another slap in the face for city ratepayers, who were hit earlier this year by rises to their City of Ballarat rates notices.

Will these hardworking ratepayers be getting bang for their buck (or their extra 20 cents or 50 cents, anyway)?Will this extra money going into the council coffers be used for the three Rs of council – rates, roads and rubbish?

Will this extra cash be splashed around on what really needs to be done, like removal of graffiti around the city or the beautification of our city’s main entrances?

If the answer to all of the above questions is yes, then maybe us motorists won’t complain about a rise in CBD parking fees.

If not, then maybe we should be thinking of carpooling to work.