Free CBD parking call

A MAJOR investor has appealed for Townsville City Council to ease its CBD parking policies to allow one-hour free street parking to improve numerous retail vacancies in the area.

But the council says it only charges $1 for people to park for an hour.

National Retail Group is set to undertake a $3m refurbishment of the former Dimmeys and Woolworths supermarket property in Flinders and Sturt streets, which will include some on-site parking.

Prospective tenants Anytime Fitness and Skin Ski & Surf – which already lease other sites in the CBD – will invest at least another $1m in fitouts.

Opposite the property in Flinders St, much of the block between Stanley and Stokes streets, including arcades and laneways leading to the littleused public bus hub, is vacant.

“We’d like to see one-hour free parking,” National Retail Group director Michael Spektor said.

“I think it would go a long way to enticing locals back to the CBD.

“It would do something to assist those businesses that are doing it tough with the high vacancy rates and the social problems that persist.”

Townsville Chamber of Commerce CEO Ross Mclennan said the chamber had long held the view that parking costs should be eased and that the current policy of 15 minutes’ free ticketed parking was too short.

“It’s definitely a disincentive for people to come into the shops.

“You can park at Castletown and Stockland for free,” Mr Mclennan said.

Figures reported last year show the council collected $2.6m in parking revenue and fines in 2018-19, while budget papers reveal the council’s total revenues have increased almost $50m in the three years to 2020-21, much of it in general rates, utility charges and “other revenue”.

One of the city’s property agents, Graeme Russell of Ray White Commercial Townsville, said he supported the idea of extending the current 15 minutes’ free parking to an hour.

“It’s just a continual erosion of the city heart by the urban shopping centres,” Mr Russell said.

“It’s just robbing the city of its identity. Seeing tourists wandering through the city, it’s embarrassing.”

In a statement, a council spokesman said they had undertaken considerable consultation with businesses and the community on the current CBD parking policy.

“The current policy allows for 15 minutes’ free parking.

“For those who want to park longer, council charges a small fee ($1 an hour).

“Our policy is not about parking revenue, it’s about ensuring spaces are available for people who come into the CBD to access businesses,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said the council would continue to monitor parking in the CBD and engage with business owners and other stakeholders to ensure its CBD parking policy remained responsive to the needs of those businesses and the wider community.

Mr Russell said introducing traffic by redeveloping the former Flinders Mall 10 years ago had helped bring people and vehicles into the area but more was needed for the heart of Townsville to flourish.

“What we need is another round of building apartments and hotels. We need more people living and working in the city,” Mr Russell said.