Beware: Ticket inspectors set to return to CBD

FREE parking is about to end in the CBD with Cairns Regional Council setting the date for ticket inspectors to return to the beat.

Parking has not technically been free – but the council has not issued any fines since March 16 in a bid to offset the financial impact of the coronavirus shutdown. Mayor Bob Manning said the parking ticket amnesty would end on Monday, July 20.

“As workers return to the city, our cafes, restaurants and bars open to more people, elective surgery resumes and tourists come to visit, more and more people will be competing for a park,” he said.

“At the height of coronavirus the demand for parking just wasn’t there, hence the parking amnesty.

“Parking fees and time limits are all about making spaces available to more people and helping the retail sector to trade.

“We want to encourage people to come into the CBD and support local retailers, cafes and restaurants.

“It’s council’s job to balance all these competing needs and the fairest way to do that is by generating vehicle turnover.

“Parking fees and time limits achieve that.”

Boland’s Centre on-site manager Kay Bullpitt welcomed the reintroduction of parking infringements.

“I understand at the time why council introduced the parking fine amnesty, but now that things are getting back to normal and more and more people are returning to the city, we need to start freeing up those parking spots outside businesses,” she said.

“For example, we have Vision Australia at the Boland’s Centre, we need to make sure that clients, and especially those people with a disability, can easily access those parking spaces close to the businesses.

“All day parking for city workers is available within five-minutes walking distance of the city centre.” Warnings will be issued to drivers who overstay time limits or fail to buy a ticket from July 13 before fines resume a week later. Centre median parking in the CBD is always free, with time limits.