Where have all the cars gone?

STAFF boycott paid parking precinct in protest over new parking regualtions.

PARKING BOYCOTT: Dalziell Street all day staff carpark was virtually empty. Picture: Cathy Adams

THE streets around Lismore Base Hospital resembled a ghost town yesterday as paid parking regulations came into effect.

Patients have praised the new carpark on social media but empty staff parking on Dalziell St and an influx of cars parked in the residential areas outside the regulated zone points to dissatisfaction among staff.

• TIMELINE: How did it get to this point?

LBH Nurses and Midwives Assocation member Shaen Springall said staff were angry there were not enough permits to go around and the parking fees were extra costs on going to work.

The parking changes were originally designed to alleviate parking congestion for visitors and staff in what had historically been a difficult place to park.

The plan included the opening of a multi-storey car park and the introduction of parking fees in surrounding streets.

But "it's an absolute debacle" according to one nearby resident who had cars parked in front of his driveway Others have described the current situation as "pathetic".

There were 645 staff from LBH who applied for parking permits and only 400 were awarded a permit ballot.

The permits entitled staff to reduced parking rates in the multi-storey car park and existing staff car parks for $12 a week.

Those without a permit pay the full price of $8 a day in the new car park which has 270 car parks and only a portion of those allocated to staff at any one time.

There are 83 all-day car parks in Dalziell Street designed for staff costing $5 a day and staff say this is simply unaffordable and unfair.

Two hour paid parking is available in Uralba and Hunter Streets, and two hour free parking in some surrounding streets, but is unsuitable for workers.

A hospital spokeswoman said the parking situation was being closely monitored, and reviewed daily.

She said it was only early days and they would assess the usage of the new car parkand allocate new permits as necessary.

An additional 20 permits were allocated yesterday in response to the first review.

Lismore council's development and compliance manager Peter Jeuken said the changes to parking would be reviewed under RMS guidelines.

"We know that it takes at least three months after the introduction of any paid parking for behaviours to start to change," he said.