Adelaide City Council rejects push to increase parking prices

A plan to increase parking by up to 20 per cent has been rejected by Adelaide City Council in a bid to bring more people to the city.

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On-street parking fees in the CBD will remain unchanged next financial year after a plan to increase charges by up to 20 per cent was knocked back.

Adelaide City Council voted at a meeting last night to not make any changes to its fees and charges schedule for 2021-22, including parking costs throughout the city.

Not increasing parking fees would have an impact of at least $250,000 on the council’s bottom line.

The move was in response to helping traders, residents and visitors recover from the economic fallout of COVID-19, as well as attract people to the city,

Cr Greg Mackie said the council had to exercise restraint and do its best to help its community during uncertain times.

“We (are telling the community that we) understand absolutely clearly that we are at the beginning of what economists are saying will be a very very deep recession,” Cr Mackie said.

Cr Anne Moran said the council had to look at its own efficiencies before hitting others’ hip pockets.

The City reported last week that increases would range from an extra 10c a half-hour in some areas to a flat 50c increase on weekends.

A four-hour weekend park on Rundle Rd would have gone from $2.50 to $3, a 20 per cent rise.

After the meeting, Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor told The Advertiser the council wanted to keep fees and charges the same until the city showed strong signs of recovery.