No stopping on city meter plan

After five months of consultation and analysis on the city's parking problems, a report shows 74 per cent of respondents object to the use of meters.

But the council is moving forward with the plan, arguing that no other viable alternative has been offered to solve the parking shortage in the city and the looming commuter crisis, with an anticipated 80 per cent increase in traffic volume by 2026.

The parking strategy is expected to be endorsed at Tuesday's council meeting by administrators Gabrielle Kibble, Col Gellatly and Robert McGregor, and the meters will go into the ground within 12 months.

It will take seven years to pay for the meters which will generate between $1 million to $2 million each year, with some of the money raised to be pumped into additional traffic and parking improvements.

The plan also includes an increase in free 15-minute parking zones and a new fee for using council parking stations.

The plan is focused on encouraging motorists to take advantage of privately owned and underused parking stations, or to use alternative means of travel like walking, cycling or public transport.

City workers are being targeted with the council hoping they will no longer see driving and parking in the city as a preferred option. However, the council risks alienating motorists who may choose to shop or work elsewhere if meters are introduced.

Many of the submissions to the council suggested people would stop shopping in the CBD if parking meters were introduced.

Another submission read: "Parking meters do not prevent motorists parking illegally".

The report points out that there is widespread support for the objectives of the plan but overwhelming opposition to the means set out to achieve them.

In the long term, new cycle paths and five new parking stations are planned along with an innovative parking guidance system, which will use electronic signs to tell motorists where spots are available in the city.

However, the council has set no firm timetables for these measures.

COUNTING THE COST

? $2 per parking bay per half-hour, one-hour or two-hour spots depending on location

? $2 for two hours at most council parking stations

? $81 fine if caught over the time limit

? 130 parking machines

? 850 on-street metered spots

? 1440 on-street CBD spots

ONLINE

See council's parking strategy report in full.

illawarramercury.com.au