Marti Zucco and John Kelly want North Hobart meters removed

Two elected members say traders along a popular restaurant strip are still suffering because of defunct parking meters that haven’t been switched on in over a year. What’s next >>

North Hobart business owners and customers who sent a petition with more than 1000 signatures to the Hobart City Council over parking woes in the North Hobart strip. Picture: Chris Kidd

Parking meters along a busy strip in North Hobart are still leading to businesses losing revenue, two Hobart City elected members say, after the meters became a hot topic 19 months ago.

In August 2021, the council suspended and hooded several parking meters to increase visitation to North Hobart, after several businesses blamed the meters for a decline in business.

But 19 months on, the meters remain in place, something Cr John Kelly says is a deterrent to customers.

Parking meters were suspended on the North Hobart Elizabeth Street strip. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“People still see the blue meters there, there’s all the markings on the ground around them, they naturally assume the meters are in operation and drive on,” Mr Kelly said.

“They haven’t been in operation 19 months … They’ve been hooded but unless you go up and read the sign, you wouldn’t know, there’s a perception they’re still in operation.

“Nobody loves parking meters, it’s a psychological and financial barrier to people stopping in North Hobart.”

On Monday, Mr Kelly and Ald Marti Zucco will move a joint motion for the meters to be removed, for the CEO to consult with traders, and for off-street car parking times to be altered to 8am to 6pm.

“The other big thorn in the side is having post 6pm parking, the CBD doesn’t have that but North Hobart does, it’s a double standard,” Mr Kelly said.

Hobart City councillor John Kelly: Linda Higginson

“Nothing’s happened with reviewing time zones.

“They’re booking people at 8pm on a Saturday night in winter, when no one else is around, it’s madness.”

Mr Zucco said traders were still waiting to have their voices heard.

“The original motion was the CEO consult with the traders in regard to parking in North Hobart, to implement their needs as a matter of urgency,” Mr Zucco said.

“There was a meeting in regard to marketing but there was not meeting in regard to the needs of traders.

Marti Zucco on the North Hobart restaurant strip. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“We can move quickly with other matters but when there’s a decision, the traders are kept in limbo for 19 months.”

Mr Zucco said council staff needed to urgently meet with traders.

“Heads would have rolled if this was a private company … Had it been one of my employees I would have moved them on,” Mr Zucco said.

“It’s like someone ordering a plate of pasta and they don’t get it til 19 months later and they still haven’t received it.”

Hobart City council officers said the council was looking into removing the parking meters.

They said the council had undertaken programs to enhance North Hobart.

Originally published as Marti Zucco and John Kelly want North Hobart meters removed