AS parking officers began prowling the CBD for unpaid parking this week, contention around the parking meters appears to be abating, with Council committing to the installation of nine more parking meters in late July.

The topic was the first item at the monthly Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) meeting on Wednesday night.

A deputation from the Hamilton and Regional Business Association (HRBA) was in attendance to deliver a petition with over 2200 signatures in support of the removal of the parking meters, or to have changes implemented.

HRBA had written to Council in April expressing concern on behalf of CBD retailers and the wider community who believed that inadequate community consultation had been undertaken and that the new parking meters were contributing to a downturn in trade.

The letter expressed concern that retailers were facing a myriad of financial challenges presently and that there had been a “perfect storm of negative impacts on local traders”.

In their submission HRBA made specific requests to either remove the meters or consider making some modifications like increased signage and reduce the time on Friday evening in line with the other days of the week – to 5pm.

SGSC chief executive, Tony Doyle replied in writing and said that the Hamilton CBD Masterplan that was completed in 2020 involved “significant engagement with the community. This included renting a shop in Gray Street, not only as a drop in venue for the community but also from which we ran more formal information presentations”.

In his reply, Mr Doyle acknowledged that “some hospitality businesses may have seen some impact for various reasons, (however) we do not believe that has been caused by the installation of the new parking meters”.

The data we have received from SpendMapp indicates our hospitality industry is performing well in comparison to previous years.

At Wednesday night’s meeting, HRBA vice president, Matt Nettleton opened his speech from the floor of the chamber by stating there had been a strong show of public discontent with the meters.

“We’ve had an unbelievable groundswell of local businesses coming to us to talk about their concerns with the new parking meters,” he said.

“Part of that is we have been presented with a petition of 2200 signatures (of people) that are looking for a change.

“We can see that there is some benefits to them - there’s no question - there were people parking in parking spots that weren’t metered for extended periods of time and it was a challenge getting parking spots, I think a lot of that has been resolved.

“But I think what we’re seeing … especially with the older community, is a real concern around the challenge of using them.

“Something that has been brought to us and is part of this petition as well, is a recommendation that there is an hour of free parking.”

Mr Nettleton said there had also been a strong show of support to see Friday parking times in line with the other days of the week finishing at 5pm instead of 8pm.

“(However) I think the key thing is we wanted to present the petition of 2200 local people, which is to us, is a fairly large percentage of the region that has concerns with (the parking meters),” he said.

HRBA member, Darcy Walker was also in attendance and said the key point was that the groundswell of all the CBD businesses had gone out on their own bat to gather the signatures.

“Those signatures were collected in 10 days – it just shows the passion that people have got about it.

“I know we’ve sent a letter in, and we have a response, but I think for us it’s very important that there is consideration for a period of free parking and also very much reducing that time on Friday back to 5pm,” Mr Nettleton said.

“There has been some data on increased spending in hospitality … there might be an increase in spending but there’s a real challenge in that industry and anything we can do to promote more people in the (CBD) and also people feeling comfortable with the parking - I think the better.

“Probably one of the other points was about the consultation - I guess we felt it was a little bit underdone,” Mr Walker said.

“Our original submission (to the Master Plan) was calling for free parking - so it’s not a new request to have no meters, but enforced to make sure we are getting that turnover.

“We understand that there’s probably a contract in place and there’s commercial in confidence around the parking meters that have been installed but there are other jurisdictions that do have 15 minutes, half an hour up to an hour of free parking with that very system.

“There needs to be a balance there and as far as addressing these issues for older people, more education on how you can access the cards, the signage being clearer and the other thing that you pointed out (in the written response) was that there are going to be more meters - that was key feedback that came back - there’s just not enough.

“There’s people going across the street to access (a parking meter).

“There needs to be a big upswing in that to make it easier for people.”

Mayor Robertson responded to the deputation and said that council had taken a couple of those points on board and said there would be more parking meters.

“It’s not good enough to make people cross the road,” he said.

“We’ve talked about the late parking meters on Friday – we’ll continue to address these points.”

The Petition against the Parking meters was tabled and moved by Cr Bruach Colliton and seconded by Cr Katrina Rainsford.

Meanwhile, Hamilton ratepayer, Anna Huf also received a reply from SGSC to a letter she wrote in April regarding the parking meters’ installation being potentially discriminatory against those disabled.

Ms Huf has been advocating for the removal of the parking meters and said everyone she spoke to locally was against them.

In her submission she put to the Council that some community members would require the assistance of another to use the parking meters on their behalf, thus denying them their independence.

 She received a direct reply from SGSC chief executive, Tony Doyle, that said there were still plenty of free parking spaces in Hamilton’s CBD and that disability access had been considered in the process.

However, Ms Huf again replied in writing to Mr Doyle refuting that it was only a short walking distance from the supermarket car spaces to the main street and said that “25 meters is a long walk for someone with a disability”.

“The (council’s) response has totally dismissed my concerns of those with disability,” she said.

In her reply she stated “last week, while at the chemist, ironically picking up medication for my husband, a staff member mentioned she had not seen him recently … I explained that he cannot walk far, and the conversation led to the parking meters … another customer joined in, sharing similar difficulties her husband faces”.

“The SGSC are discriminating against the residents of Hamilton, who will live with the ramifications of the actions of SGSC members for many years, long after you and others have left our community.”

Meanwhile, in neighbouring shires, Glenelg Shire Council have said recently they won’t ever be returning parking meters to Portland’s CBD.

Glenelg Shire Council abolished parking meters across the shire in early 2020 just as COVID-19 struck.

“Councilors unanimously voted to respond to the community’s needs and ensure free parking in all CBD precincts,” Glenelg Shire Council local laws manager Jodie Maybery said.

“There is no discussion around reinstalling parking meters across the Shire.

“Officers continue to patrol busy areas of the Portland CBD, up to Fern Street and loading/disabled car parking spaces to ensure overall parking compliance.”

There are still time restrictions in place and drivers must still obey the time limits or face a non-compliance fine of $56.51.

Likewise, Moyne Shire Council has free parking in Port Fairy’s CBD.

Warrnambool City Council and Horsham City Council, although have digital parking meters, still offer the option of cash whereas the SGSC does not provide that option.