The irony is that the council may have eroded its own revenue base. The significant number of empty car parks on Sturt Street has to translate to less revenue garnered in fees and fines.

I saw today a parking officer desultorily wandering along Doveton Street looking for some poor hapless shopper to fine for having the temerity to shop in the CBD but, on this sunny Wednesday, there were more empty car parks than there were cars.

I do not want to hear about the council's latest expensive strategy to "revitalise" the CBD. I do not want to hear about how it supports small businesses. We are paying Victoria's highest commercial rates and the council's own greedy revenue-raising policies have removed the customers from the streets that we need so that we can pay these rates.

Have you noticed the alarming number of empty shops? Have a look at the block opposite Myer. It's heartbreaking. Every empty shop represents the broken dreams and financial duress of some poor Ballarat family.

This is an absolute heartfelt plea to review your parking policy, Ballarat. At the very least, consider providing free parking on the weekends so that we have half a chance of keeping our businesses open and employing your children.