By Emily-Rose Toohey
Regulated parking on Palmerin Street is enforced by Southern Downs Regional Council’s (SDRC) parking inspector and Mayor Vic Pennisi said changes to this regime are unlikely, especially the implementation of meters.
An SDRC spokesperson said the local law officer does regular patrols three days a week on varying days and at varying times.
“During the Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival, council officers undertook more regular patrols however, very little enforcement was actioned as there were no issues raised or identified,” the spokesperson said.
“The two-hour parking system works well for a region of our size – the cost of installing and maintaining parking meters cannot currently be justified.”
Cr Pennisi mirrored this statement and said regulated parking on the main street had been the case ever since amalgamation.
“Not too many regional centres have parking meters,” he said.
“A lot of people see them as a deterrent to shoppers and it could make the difference between people shopping in the CBD and not shopping in the CBD.
“Simply, council could have that discussion at some stage and could make that decision at down the track, but I’d be reluctant to support that.”
Furthermore, the SDRC spokesperson said council has no intention of installing parking meters at this time.
“Council fields very few complaints regarding parking,” the spokesperson said.
“The majority of concerns reported relate to parking in loading zones however, there are very few complaints.”
