Townsville residents’ heated views about The Strand parking meters

Residents that frequent The Strand were asked about the planned rollout of parking meters. Watch their reactions.

Townsville residents that frequent The Strand expressed distaste at the council’s plan to install parking meters, with colourful descriptions of the budget policy including “greedy”, “ludicrous”, and “unfair”.

They believed the community spirit and atmosphere was at risk if people had to pay for the time they spent in the area.

A market stall owner believed it would frustrate North Ward residents as their streets would build up with parked cars as visitors would park further away to avoid the $2 an hour fee.

Currajong resident Alex Gallaher was vocal against the idea.

“My opinion is no way, they’ve got to come up with something else,” Mr Gallaher said.

“That is ludicrous.

Currajong resident Alex Gallaher is ropeable at the idea that parking meters would be set up along The Strand.

“Do you think someone is going to come down and pay for a parking ticket when 30 odd years prior, 100 years prior, you didn’t have to come down and pay for a swim?”

The Townsville City Council announced it would double parking fees to $2 an hour, and introduce meters at The Strand, but also in Gregory St, Palmer St, and at the Fulham Rd medical precinct.

South Townsville mother-of-four Joanna Pacey said she was willing to pay parking tickets for locations such as Palmer St which was full of bars and restaurants.

But she said it was a different issue entirely to have to pay parking in such a “fun, safe environment” such as The Strand.

She pointed out the numerous schoolchildren enjoying their holidays in the area, and said the cost of them spending their time in the area would be passed onto their parents.

“I’m not thrilled about it at all … I think it’s really unfair to young families who would perhaps decrease their opportunity to come down and enjoy The Strand as a free family activity,” she said.

South Townsville mother-of-four, Joanna Pacey, said parking fees at The Strand would be unfair for the disadvantaged as well as teenagers who could drive. It would restrict access to families.

“Cost of living is on the rise and I think the patronage at The Strand will be limited.”

Deeragun resident Nerelle Abel said she understood the logic of having parking meters in North Ward, as well as a parking increase.

She was more upset about parking fees being enforced in Fulham Rd in Pimlico, which would affect people who needed to attend Mater Hospital and specialists.

Market store holder Heidi Braithwaite said parking meters would impact small businesses at North Ward, but would also motivate motorists to park further away which would frustrate those residents.

“People are under a lot of stress when they’re visiting specialists and hospitals, and they shouldn’t have to pay,” Ms Abel said.

“So going into a hospital, that’s the last thing that’s on your mind, and then you come out and you’ve got a parking ticket.”

Market stallholder Heidi Braithwaite said parking fees at The Strand during the day would impact small businesses and discourage foot traffic, while at the same time people would park further away.

Narelle Figg, of Idalia, is a market store holder who believes parking fees at The Strand was "greedy" and not in the interest of the community.

“I really don’t think it’s a good idea … especially for vendors when we come and set up we’ve got to pay for parking as well as coming down here and paying for site, which I think is ridiculous.”

“More people will be parking in the backstreets and then you’re going to have residents that are complaining when people are taking up carparks.”

Idalia resident Narelle Figg said “I think it’s very greedy for the council to try and do that.

“We do pay for parking in most of the business areas, I understand that, and other areas do it too but … it would really wreck the ambience of The Strand and it’s such a beautiful place.”

Newcastle resident Greg McFarlane said there was no parking fees for beaches in his hometown. He said he would not like to have to keep checking the parking meter if he spent the day at the beach and in local cafes.

An online parking poll of 700 votes showed 82 per cent of residents would avoid The Strand if they had to pay for parking.

Councillor Kurt Rehbein said despite approving the city council budget in the recent special council meeting, he intended on reintroducing the rollout of parking meters at the next meeting.

He said the community’s resentment of the issue showed that it needed to be reconsidered.

Division 3 councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said all councillors adopted the budget with a focus on maintaining essential services in the community, and that paid parking helped maintain essential services.

Councillor Paul Jacob in his capacity as Acting Mayor, said in his budget speech that The Strand cost $6m annually to maintain.

“The increase is still well below that experienced in other cities such as Cairns at $2.20 per hour and Newcastle at $5 per hour.”

Several interstate visitors to the Strand compared the parking fees, such as a Sydney resident who said he would have to pay $10 per hour.

Newcastle resident Greg McFarlane, who stopped by North Ward during his travels, said while his hometown had parking in the CBD, there were no parking meters at his beaches and he would not want them to be installed there.

He could spend a day swimming, walking and enjoying the cafes and he would not want to keep track of the time to avoid parking fines.

Originally published as Townsville residents’ heated views about The Strand parking meters