July 24, 2023
South Burnett Regional Council will embark on community consultations to gauge what residents think about introducing regulated parking in the town’s CBD.
At this month’s Infrastructure Standing Committee meeting, Councillors heard that a number of Nanango businesses had called on Council to introduce CBD parking restrictions in order to free up more spaces for customers.
At present, a number of the town’s CBD spaces are being used by workers in preference to the Scott Car Park.
This is a problem that pre-dates the upgrade to Nanango’s CBD carried out in 2015-16 where the issue was raised at a number of public meetings called to discuss the project.
At their recent meeting, Councillors were told business houses had requested the Council introduce the same system planned for Kingaroy.
This would lead to three-hour parking restrictions in parts of Drayton, Henry and Fitzroy streets during business hours, with potential fines for drivers who exceed their allotted time.
Cr Jane Erkens, who moved the motion, said she had been approached by several CBD traders on the matter.
These businesses, she said, were being affected by staff members from other businesses which relied less on walk-in trade.
Cr Kathy Duff, who seconded the motion, said favoured community consultation but in this case believed feedback from those who had “skin in the game” mattered more than general feedback from the broader community.
Council officers warned that introducing any form of controlled parking would mean Council would have to weigh up – and fund – enforcement issues.
However, the motion to move to community consultation was carried unanimously and ratified at last week’s general meeting.
- Related article: Parking Fines Planned For CBD
Brilliant idea, can’t come soon enough. I am a local spender not a business owner.