No takers for Toowoomba Regional Council’s $1700-a-year guaranteed parking plan at Neil St bus station in Toowoomba CBD

No businesses or residents have taken up the offer of guaranteed car parks in the Toowoomba CBD, despite extensive promotion by the council. But one councillor says the TRC is confident that will change soon.

There has been a slow take-up of guaranteed Toowoomba CBD parking.

The Toowoomba Regional Council will continue to push its guaranteed parking plan for the CBD, despite receiving just nine inquiries and no actual leases from the scheme after “extensive promotion”.

The councillors voted in July to turn the top level of the Neil St bus station car park into a guaranteed section, where businesses and workers could reserve a space for $678 a quarter or $1700 a year.

But infrastructure general manager Mike Brady told the TRC interest in the plan, which was expected to cost the TRC $60,000, had been slow to this point.

“Though we did have nine spaces requested, which is pretty small, we’re yet to see any of them convert to being a take-up of the actual use,” he said at last week’s ordinary meeting.

“We’re not really getting the take-up we had hoped, there’s been a fair bit of promotion but unfortunately that’s not being realised at this stage.”

Infrastructure portfolio leader Cr Melissa Taylor said the COVID-19 pandemic had played a role in the lack of interest due to tough economic circumstances.

“It’s worth noting that, since this initiative was first raised, one of the current effects of COVID-19 is that many businesses have changed working arrangements which has had a positive impact on the increased availability of car parks in the Toowoomba CBD,” she said.

“It’s believed that as businesses begin returning to ‘normal’ operations, the need for more parking places will increase.

“We’ve also received feedback how the availability of this parking option could be useful when promoting CBD premises to prospective tenants.

“With the authorised area and supporting arrangements now in place, it’s the council’s intention to continue to offer this option for long-term parking, so as to accommodate potential future interest as and when that may arise.”

For more information about the parking spots, call the council on 131 872.