As a growing regional city, we can expect that with population growth and new developments, there will be increased pressure on carparking for businesses, visitors, residents and employees.

Having a long-term plan for the provision and management of parking within our city is essential and it is important that we don’t let one element of this plan (parking meters) distract from the validity of the wider strategy.

Tamworth Business Chamber supports the revised parking strategy as it genuinely adopts best practice in parking management and will have a positive impact on the economy of the CBD and other commercial precincts.

The biggest winners from the implementation of the strategy will be CBD workers, with the removal of time limits from all of council’s off-street parking areas freeing up parking spaces in more premium locations and giving workers much needed cost of living relief. Free parking for CBD workers also makes is easier for businesses to attract and retain staff.

We are pleased to see a commitment from Council to upgrade lighting and security in under utilised and outer limit parking areas as this has certainly been raised with us as the primary reason for CBD workers parking in more premium locations. This, together with any future proposed increase to paid parking, will be areas that Chamber will monitor closely and challenge Council on, should they fail to deliver.

We have seen and heard the claims that revenue raising and short-term parking will be detrimental to business, but there is no evidence to support this.

There is genuine science behind a good parking strategy and business needs active turnover of premium parking spaces to drive repeat customer visitation.

It is a common miss-conception that free parking is good for business. Free parking can lead to longer stays by fewer individuals, reducing turnover of parking spaces and the number of customers visiting local businesses.

Businesses, particularly small retailers, initially tend to object to paid parking out of fear that it may discourage customers. But again, there is no evidence to support this including the introduction of paid parking in surrounding CBD streets here in Tamworth, in the early 2000’s

Taking into account the advice of our Vice President Martin Howes who boasts over 20 years of retail shopping management experience, together with studies conducted around the world, there is a strong indication that customers will pay for parking in areas with attractive businesses and attractive pedestrian environments.

Chamber also notes that the most successful commercial districts have priced parking, while many commercial centres with free parking spaces typically do not enjoy the same economic success.

Note: The draft Parking Strategy was adopted by Council on 12 February and forms part of their wider Integrated Transport Strategy. We encourage all members to sign-up to Council’s “Have Your Say” portal to follow and engage with these kinds of important conversations.