Port Macquarie paid parking looks like ‘inevitable’ outcome of survey, businessman Luke Hadfield warns

Paid parking is a “bad idea” that will hit workers and those struggling financially the hardest, warns a Port Macquarie business leader after council listed it as an option in a public survey.

Lack of parking is a major headache in central Port Macquarie. Picture: Supplied.

A prominent local businessman has warned paid parking in Port Macquarie appears “inevitable” but unless council manages it correctly, the heaviest cost would be on city workers and those least able to afford it.

With parking in the Mid-North Coast town’s centre hard to find, especially during tourist season, Port Macquarie and Hastings Council has invited the general public to participate in a survey of options to free up more spaces.

Parking in the centre of town is free with time limits but this situation is not coping with demand, the survey says.

“By 2027–2028, parking in the Port Macquarie Town Centre is expected to regularly exceed 85 per cent capacity,” it states.

To deal with this problem council is developing a “Parking Management Precinct Plan” for the CBD with nominated options such as “time limits, permits, pricing and infrastructure” as well as “integrating sustainable transport options”.

Business leader Luke Hadfield warns paid parking would impose major burdens. Picture: Supplied.

The survey invites residents to “help deliver parking that is fair, accessible, and future-ready”.

Real estate agent Luke Hadfield, who is President of the Camden Haven Chamber of Commerce, said that although paid parking is buried among the options “it feels like” it is “inevitable”.

“I don’t think it is a great idea, speaking as someone who comes in Port town centre to work,” he said.

“It is just going to cripple people who are already struggling with the cost of living.”

Mr Hadfield admitted parking during peak tourism periods was “a nightmare”.

“If there is no other option than to put meters in, then that is a case of what it has to be,” he said.

“I think it is disappointing, we have the space to provide more parking.

“I am coming from the perspective of the nine-to-five workers in town who are probably going to be hit the most.

“While tourists or visitors may come in one day or two days for a couple of hours at a time it’s your workers who have to be there five days a week that are really going to pick up the tab and they generally are the taxpayers or ratepayers in the region.”

Mr Hadfield said the survey did not give him confidence the community was genuinely being listened to.

Mr Hadfield said introducing paid parking metres in the town centre would “cripple” those already struggling with the cost of living. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

“I think it very cleverly focuses on what you enjoy in the town centre. I would see it as a survey on liveable communities rather than parking,” he said.

“In six months time when they come out with this plan they will push that they did community consultation, they asked the community and this is the feedback they got.”

Mr Hadfield did back the option of permits.

“If paid parking is where we are heading we need to offer solutions for the people who are here for work,” he said.

“They are not here for leisure, they are coming to do a job to contribute to this region.”

“It’s not just your nine-to-fivers, it’s your uni students who are coming to work in the cafes or speciality shops.”

Business NSW Regional Director Rod Barnaby said businesses in regional areas are “doing it tough”.

“We support any measures to support access to town centres, an increase in foot traffic and encouraging people into CBDs to shop locally,” he said.

“A reasonable paid parking scheme can assist in turnover of parking in town centre areas, so that is not necessarily a negative but we also need to plan for parking precincts on the fringe of town so there is adequate free parking for workers and people who want to shop longer.

“We think it is good that the council is seeking feedback but what we hear from businesses is parking has been an issue for some time and they need action to make it happen and support businesses in local town stories.”

Council has been contacted for comment.

Got a story tip? Email [e-mail]

Originally published as Port Macquarie paid parking looks like ‘inevitable’ outcome of survey, businessman Luke Hadfield warns