Businesses will be the big winners when a new CBD-wide shake-up of parking rules gives drivers greater flexibility in early 2018.
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Ballarat City Council will allow car parking tickets to be used at car parks with the same time restrictions elsewhere in the CBD.
About 90 per cent of visitors to Ballarat come via car.
More than 40 per cent of these people visit the city to see family or friends.
Visit Ballarat chief executive Noel Dempsey said retail and restaurant businesses would be big winners with more flexible parking options for visitors.
“Most people still come to this town by car, and secondary retail and shopping is a big part of the visitor experience,” he said.
“Any flexibility will allow them to stay longer.
“The fastest growing sector of our membership is retail because they know (tourism) is a big part of their business.”
Drivers would not be able to buy a ticket for an all day car park and use it to then park in a two-hour time restricted location, under the new plan.
Currently tickets are only valid for the length of one block on the street where they were first purchased.
Mr Dempsey said parking was critical to the visitor experience.
“You are not going to come to an event or shopping if it is a pain in the neck,” he said.
“The CBD offers these bespoke strip shopping experiences, in keeping with our laneways, so there is a better experience.
“You will find retail shops of interest there, so it is a different and more engaging experience.”
Ballarat parking is more affordable than Melbourne, but if we make it something that can be transferred that is fantastic
- Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett
Council’s new system will include colour coded tickets based on the different time restrictions different car parks.
It will also include the streets around Ballarat Base Hospital and St John of God Hospital.
The hospital precinct has previously been at the centre of frustration for motorists when it comes to the cost of parking.
Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said the changes were needed as the city grew.
“Ballarat parking is more affordable than Melbourne, but if we make it something that can be transferred that is fantastic,” she said.
“Everyone hates paying for parking, but it is an important revenue source for councils.
“Anything we can do to make shopping in Ballarat more attractive is a bonus.”
How will it work?
Ballarat City’s new ticketing system for paid and time restricted car parks will be colour coded to provide easy use for motorists in the CBD.
The colour coding will be introduced to match timed zones together.
For example, a two-hour ticket will be valid at any other two-hour car park within the CBD or Ballarat Hospital precinct, but not car parks with a different restriction.
This means drivers who pay for a two-hour or all-day ticket can only use those in a second car park with the same restriction.
Drivers would not be able to use an all-day ticket to park in a two-hour zone.
Ballarat City Council has also investigated the use of mobile phone apps to allow people to pay for parking.
Cr Amy Johnson said the use of mobile phone apps to pay for parking would add flexibility.
“Hopefully this measure will save residents money and will allow paying for parking to become more convenient,” he said.
“We an investigating a number of suppliers.
“I’ll be strongly advocating for a system such as this to be implemented by 2018.”
An app would potentially allow motorists to remotely add extra time when they have paid less than maximum limit for a park.
It is seems unfair residents purchase a ticket, still have time left, move their car, and still have to purchase another ticket
- Cr Amy Johnson
Cr Johnson said any introduction of a new app would not disadvantage people who did not have smart phones.
“The Paystay app allows residents to pay via their phone and would also allow the option for those without smart phones to use traditional ticketing,” she said.
“It is seems unfair residents purchase a ticket, still have time left, move their car, and still have to purchase another ticket.
Residents who have paid for one-hour in a two-hour park, could use the app to top up their payment if they are spending longer than expected in the CBD.
Council has no plans to change the ticketing system for numbered car parks, such as those on Lydiard Street.
These machines number each car park and do not issue a ticket.
Instead drivers select the number of their park and the machine monitors the length of time for which they have paid.
