Wednesday 8 February 2012
Fifteen new parking meters will be installed in Tamworth’s CBD next week in the latest stage of Council’s strategy to make more parking options available.
The new meters - pay-and-display solar-powered machines similar to the existing 28 meters in the CBD – will start to be put in place on Monday, February 13 and be completed by Wednesday, February 15. They will be operating from 8.30am on Thursday, February 16.
Concrete footings for the machines will start to be constructed on Friday.
Tamworth Regional Council Manager Infrastructure Planning, Warren Faulkner, said the installation work would be done at night to minimise any inconvenience to shoppers, workers and businesses in the CBD.
The new meters will be in three locations:
- Kable Avenue on both sides of the roadway, between Brisbane and Bourke streets;
- Bourke Street on both sides of the roadway, between Kable and Peel streets;
- White Street between Kable and Marius streets.
Mr Faulkner urged motorists in the CBD to be mindful of the upcoming changes.
'The time restrictions will not change in those streets getting the new meters, it will simply become ticketed parking and motorists need to remember to get a ticket from the meter and display it on their dashboard before they leave their parked vehicle,’ he said.
Tamworth Regional Council decided in June last year to install the additional meters as part of its CBD Parking Strategy which aims to provide various types of parking in the CBD to help manage traffic flow as well as provide equitable access to available parking in high demand areas.
The CBD Parking Strategy was developed in 2010 after Council engaged a consultant to undertake a community survey and businesses in the CBD were consulted.
The new parking meters will generate about $100,000 in additional parking revenue which, in line with the strategy, will be used to fund new car parking areas.
Last year, Council bought a site on the corner of Brisbane Street and Griffin Ave, behind the Old Bell Tower, for a new car park using income from parking meters. The detailed design of the car park is currently being undertaken and Council will consider its construction as part of the management plan for the next financial year.
Mr Faulkner has reminded motorists to display their parking ticket correctly or risk being fined. `It should not be obscured by anything on the dashboard, it must not be damaged or torn,’ he said. `It must be current for that day, time and parking place and it must be able to be easily read by parking officers.’
Motorists face an $88 fine if they overstay in timed ticketed parking areas.
Tamworth Regional Council provides various types of on-street and off-street parking in the CBD to cater for the wide range of purposes which attract people to visit it.
'There is timed ticketed parking, all-day ticketed parking, all-day free parking, 3-hour free parking and two-hour free parking,’ he said.
'Council regulates parking to ensure there is a turn over of vehicles to allow motorists to access businesses.
'The Council has to provide for the needs of shoppers and visitors to the CBD as well as shopkeepers and workers. It’s why we have a variety of paid and free parking choices.’
A map showing the location of the various CBD parking choices is on Council’s website at http://www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/Council/Parking/default.aspx