Lismore council reintroduces two-hour parking in city's CBD

THE people have spoken and Lismore Council has responded by re-introducing two-hour parking in the CBD.

Lismore Council’s Brent McAlister and Chamber of Commerce Chairman Art Beavis celebrate the return of two-hour parking to the CBD. Picture: Andy Parks

THE people have spoken and Lismore Council has responded by re-introducing two-hour parking in the CBD.

The council's sustainable development executive director, Brent McAlister, said the CBD was a "multi-purpose trip destination" - which is another way of saying people generally do several things in a single visit and one hour often isn't long enough.

"People need more time and we are trying to encourage that. We certainly don't want to be chasing people off," he said.

Lismore Chamber of Commerce chairman, Art Beavis said the move back to two-hour zones would assist businesses in town.

"This will help business in that it will stop people leaving the CBD," he said.

"Parking is not the only thing to do to bring people to the CBD, but it is one thing that has been seen as a deterrent. (People often say) why come downtown when you can park all day at Lismore Square?"

The council is looking at other ways to address this issue and a Draft CBD Parking Policy and a Next Steps document are on public display.

One issue that has been identified is workers in the CBD are parking in areas designated for shoppers and moving their cars throughout the day.

Art Beavis said the chamber supported issuing stickers to businesses so employees could have free all-day parking in designated areas on the edge of the CBD.

Another issue that has been identified is that people think council are "revenue raising" through number plate camera technology.

Lismore collects about $500,000 a year in parking fines - about average for NSW councils.

Other initiatives include a trial of all-day permit parking for social and sporting club members in the car park behind the old council chambers in Molesworth St.