City of Darwin to introduce free parking from 3pm for three-month trial amid tough trading conditions

With some CBD traders experiencing downturns of up to 40 per cent, according to the deputy lord mayor, the council has acted, moving to stimulate Wet Season trade by offering two and a half hours’ free parking on weekdays.

On-street parking in Darwin City will be free from 3pm weekdays from December 2 on a three-month trial basis. Picture: Alex Treacy

The City of Darwin will introduce free afternoon parking in the CBD from 3pm each weekday on a three-month basis in response to reports by the deputy mayor local traders have seen downturns of up to 40 per cent.

The free afternoon parking trial is an initiative of Deputy Lord Mayor Sam Weston, who successfully moved a motion on October 29.

According to Mr Weston’s motion, the small business community in Darwin CBD has “had the worst tourism season”.

“It is reported that some businesses are down 40 per cent,” the motion stated.

“To add to their frustrations, the roll out of the parking meters has been an extra stress on them and their regular customers.”

Free parking from 3pm onwards would “give businesses a bit of help as they go into the quieter season”.

Owner of Mad Snake Cafe and Darwin City Deputy Lord Mayor Sam Weston. Picture: Fia Walsh.

The three-month trial will commence on December 2 and cost the council $150,000 in lost parking revenue and an additional $5000 for marketing and promotion costs, including placing stickers advertising the changes on all City of Darwin meters.

According to figures provided by the council in response to Mr Weston’s motion, retail and hospitality spend in Darwin was down 14.2 per cent year-on-year in June; down 6.6 per cent in July; and up 6.1 per cent in August.

The closure of City of Darwin meters earlier this year to enable upgrades – they ran on 3G, which has shut down – also caused difficulties for city traders. Picture: Alex Treacy

Cavenagh St business owner Laureen Ward, who owns Ginger Pink, said the change would be “fantastic”.

“It’s something my customers say, they always have trouble finding a park, paying for parking,” Ms Ward said.

Laureen Ward, owner of Cavenagh St retailer Ginger Pink. Picture: Alex Treacy

“It freaks them out and they don’t park. I miss sales because of the parking situation.”

Just up the road, Camilla and Tommo from Cycle Zone Darwin were generally positive.

“I’m all for free parking,” Camilla said.

Tommo said he wished there were longer parking options in the heart of the CBD.

“What sucks is you can’t renew parking, you have to physically drive a block or two blocks away,” he said.

“We’ve got a young fella, an amputee, who works here.

“He has to move his car every two hours.”

The N.T. General Store was less kind, saying parking in the CBD was a “disaster” and that the Wet Season would be “flat” like it always was regardless of what fiddling the City of Darwin did with its parking scheme.

Originally published as City of Darwin to introduce free parking from 3pm for three-month trial amid tough trading conditions