Newcastle: Hunter street small business owners calling for one hour free parking
Parking! Is there anything more frustrating in Newcastle? Through a Change.org petition, small business owners in Hunter street called for one hour of free parking, but a suggestion of a trial has been given the thumbs down by councillors.
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Parking — it’s undoubtedly one of the biggest topics of conversations across Newcastle. Mostly because there’s not much of it, but also the exorbitant fines that come with it.
Hunter St small business owners are fed up, saying the fees to park and the costly fines not just leave them out of pocket, but are driving customers away.
While Newcastle Council is working to revitalise the iconic Hunter St and bring more foot traffic for small business to thrive, the parking situation is taking its toll which may leave them with no choice but to move out of the area.
It’s just one of many challenges for struggling small business owners which have been affected by the construction of the light rail, Supercars and are now recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marguerite Tierney from the Blackstone Gallery on Hunter street started a parking petition six weeks ago, calling for one hour free timed parking along the street, in line with what’s available at Darby and Beaumont streets.
Almost 700 people supported and signed the change.org petition.
“New businesses are trying to thrive but the parking is so expensive per year for the public and for small business owners, at around $7000- $12000 a year for traders,” she said.
“People opt not to visit this part of Newcastle due to immediate parking fees over 15 minutes.
“They have driven our customers away and now we will have no choice but to move to an area that has more parking privileges.
“Hunter street residents have not been able to lease many shop fronts since March 2019. It's the parking they tell us.”
Ms Tierney said fines - at $116 a pop - are on an upward trend, with parking officers flooding Hunter street, a well-known “hotspot”.
“Business owners noticed on our block an increase in parking officers and the amount of time they were there and they are getting bigger in numbers,” she added.
“It upsets business owners and people, it gets ugly on the street, it’s not a cool look for the street.
“Figures from 2018 and 2019 said parking revenue fines was $400,000 over the predicted outcome so they are fining more, we’re not all crazy.”
With much difficulty, Newcastle Councillor John Church tried to tabled the petition at council’s meeting on Tuesday, but issues prevented him from doing so.
He did raise a notice of motion in relation to the petition calling for a trial of one hour free parking on Hunter street.
“We know small business has been doing it tough so this is a simple thing we can try to assist our struggling small businesses,” he said in Tuesday’s meeting.
“Charlestown Square and Kotara Westfield offer three hours of free parking everyday.
“This is a modest one hour trial. It is worthwhile.”
But that motion was voted down 6-5 by councillors. Instead, Council resolved to promote an evidence-based discussion about parking via Newcastle Council’s Parking Plan and community engagement.
Labor Councillor Declan Clausen - who didn’t support the motion - cited he was concerned about the “clarity” of a trial, mentioning there had been previous trials in the City of Newcastle which traders didn’t support.
Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said much broader consultation with all business and parking users in the city was needed before implementing changes.
“We have started the consultation process just this month on our parking strategy, that will come back to council in December,” Ms Nelmes said.
“It would be irresponsible not to complete the consultation first and implement significant changes like the one proposed without first talking to all stakeholders.”
The decision not to support the trial angered Ms Tierney, who explained that the last parking trial wasn’t given a fair go.
“The parking trial in the past, in 2012, was trailed for three weeks and pulled by Jeff McCloy,” she said.
“The other time was in 1992, so it was a whole different town and council.
“Parking availability, more dynamic and diverse business open and more people come to town.”