Parking limits backed

GOLD Coast City Council is pressing ahead with controversial plans for new parking restrictions in nine areas of the city.

Despite protests from residents, the proposal to introduce the weekday parking limits was passed unanimously by the Council’s Governance Committee.

The areas affected include parts of Southport, Broadbeach, Bilinga, Chevron Island, Varsity Lakes, Main Beach, Robina Stadium, Metricon Stadium and the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct.

Governance committee chairman William OwenJones said changes to the parking zones were urgent.

“The local law needs to be in place for the Commonwealth Games and there is a tortuous process that has to be gone through before making a local law,” he said.

“It will be reviewed in the first 12 months of operation.”

Labor candidate for Bonney Rowan Holzberger said public consultation about the changes was inadequate.

“Nobody I spoke to heard about it,” he said.

Labrador councillor Kristyn Boulton said parking laws had been under review since 2015.

“We have open and transparent committee and council meetings talking about parking,” she said.

Cr Boulton the parking issues were part of “growing pains”.

“I think it’s important we review and see what residents are feeling,” she said. “There will always be parking issues we need to review and review.”

A meeting of full council will vote on whether to give final approval to the laws on Tuesday.