Residents, business owners and organisation leaders have had a mixed reaction to the parking plans announced by City of Ballarat on Monday.
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If adopted, the new plan will see 4,300 more paid car parks across the city, with no time limits.
Left Hand Lucky Tattoo Parlour owner Randi Canik said the new plan raised safety issues for her staff, and would compound business issues near the Bridge Mall.
“In winter, it gets dark at 4 o’clock, and I usually have to walk past the seedy Little Bridge St Bus Interchange … I already make sure I phone my husband while I walk to the car, and now I’ll have to walk further,” she said.
“I think they’re going to make it harder for small business owners. People aren’t going to pay to come into the CBD when they can go to Stockland or Delacombe.”
Commerce Ballarat’s executive officer Jodie Gillett said while members hadn’t been consulted, the parking flexibility could be “good for the local business community”.
"We have not had a chance to be across the details or to consult with our members but there are some positives for the business community,” she said.
“The ability to move around the city on one ticket and extend the length of stay remotely is good. We need to have robust discussion and work through the details, we are a growing city and parking will be a challenge in the future.
“We did also make the comment that considerations need to be made for the elderly and people with mobility issues."
The sweeping proposal will be considered at a special council meeting on May 31.
Dana Street resident Ann Reynolds, who will potentially have $1 per hour parking on her street, said she’s concerned about the flagged $100-plus cost of an additional residential permit.
“When my daughter comes home, we’re a three car household. It’s absolutely concerning, I’m retired and don’t have an income,” she said. “The app system is a great idea, but is there an alternative for elderly people who don’t have apps and can’t walk a mile?”
Ballarat Health Services’ chief executive officer Dale Fraser said he wasn’t sure if the plan was the “right encouragement” to reduce workers monopolising parking in the hospital precinct.
“People are very sensitive to the pricing of car parking," he said. “It’s potentially a revenue raising operation, but you may see a flattening out and with people being pushed further and further out, it will increase the potential footprint.”
“What we don’t want to happen is people concerned about if they’ve got enough money in the meter, and have to leave before they’ve finalised care.”
VIEW THE INTERACTIVE MAP OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES
