Council to investigate 'permit parking' in Toowoomba CBD

THE council could introduce permit-style parking in the CBD in a bid to solve a long-standing issue that has plagued customers and business owners.

The council will investigate leasing out underused car parking. Picture: Mike Knott BUN300617CBD24

THE Toowoomba Regional Council could introduce permit-style parking in the CBD in a bid to solve a long-standing issue that has plagued customers and business owners.

Cr James O'Shea's motion at the ordinary meeting yesterday to investigate the possibility of leasing "under-utilised parking spaces" in the Toowoomba CBD to businesses for a price passed.

Cr O'Shea, who has been a major advocate on the issue in recent months, said it was about making the best use of the parking already available.

"Individuals and businesses could have the opportunity to reserve parking spaces from the TRC for a price," he said.

"The reason I've brought this forward is we know the situation with parking in the CBD has been going on for a long period of time.

"What I'm hoping through this investigation is we learn how we can utilise our available car parks."

Cr O'Shea pointed to the low occupancy rates of public car parks on Water, Station and Annand Sts at various times.

But Deputy Mayor Carol Taylor called the motion "premature", saying it should be considered after the results of the previously-approved one-hour parking trial in the CBD were known.

"This should be considered after we've got the results of the parking trial," she said.

All free centre-strip parking in the city was reduced to one hour in July for a trial period, in a bid to free up more spaces for customers.

Originally published as Council to investigate 'permit parking' in Toowoomba CBD