Paid parking meters removed from Henley Square in big win for local community
AFTER weeks of controversy, Charles Sturt Council has ripped out its paid-parking meters at Henley Beach. Your beach is free again.
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AFTER weeks of controversy, council workers have ripped out the paid parking meters at Henley Beach this afternoon with onlookers calling it a “good funeral”.
Charles Sturt Council employees disconnected the three machines, which cost about $7000 each, and loaded them into the back of a ute.
The council wants sell the machines to recoup some of the cost of installing them less than two months ago, only to face fierce backlash from the community.
Onlooker Susan Brame said it was good to see the machines ripped out.
“They are dead buggers — what a great funeral,” Ms Brame said.
“I want to thank the thousands and thousands of people who let the council know we didn’t want to pay for parking.”
The council’s staff had recommended dropping paid parking, removing the meters and returning to a free three-hour time limit in the two car parks around Henley Square.
The council officially voted to do just that at a meeting on Monday night (September 11).
It follows weeks of backlash from residents and traders, who say the beach should be free and that their businesses have suffered a loss in turnover.
Cr Jassmine Wood — who lobbied against the meters — called the move a “fantastic result”.
“I’m just grateful that finally the elected members and staff have listened to the ratepayers of Charles Sturt,” Cr Wood said.
“I think it’s been a very expensive lesson and I think the council needs to take heed of these lessons in future because it is the ratepayers who are paying for these mistakes.”
The machines, which cost $21,000 to install, came into effect at two public car parks — next to Joe’s Kiosk on the Esplanade and next to the old Evida site — on Monday, August 14.
An online petition condemning the system has collected almost 8000 signatures protesting against the meters, which have raked in $12,000 in fee revenue.
In its recommendation to the council, the report says the machines would likely be sold to recoup the cost of installing them and the underground sensors — which monitor cars movements and alert ticketing inspectors when someone has overstayed a time limit — would remain.
Charles Sturt Mayor Angela Evans said in a statement the council was listening to the community.
“I know many people in the community have been following with great interest and concern the introduction of a paid parking system,” Ms Evans said.