It’s users-pay CBD parking

CAIRNS Regional Council had the last laugh on motorists at the weekend after new regulations resulted in the end of free Saturday afternoon and Sunday parking in the CBD.

While, many were cursing having to pay for metered spots after years of freebies, there were no parking inspectors in sight. They were given the weekend off to allow motorists to get used to the new system.

The council is getting tough on parking, discouraging drivers, particularly staff who work in the CBD, from hogging street spaces allday long.

The aim is to free up the spots for people coming in to the city centre for short-term appointments, especially shopping.

Some business owners love the new rules, which means the turnover of spaces results in more people coming and going.

Others say it will turn people away from the CBD and they will shop at suburban shopping centres where parking is free.

The council has finished refurbishing its around-the-clock Lake St car park as well as providing cheaper spaces in Hartley and Bunda streets. It also is creating more than 350 on-road spaces with longer terms, particularly around the hospital and medical precincts just north of the CBD.

There are many free median centre parks, about 1000, but they are usually limited to three hours at a stretch.

We all love freebies but realistically we live in a users-pay world and that means parking too.

It’s far better for your vehicle to be in a secure undercover spot, protected from the weather, which is normally cheaper than parking on the street. Nick Dalton Deputy editor