Toowoomba parking: Council reveals reason behind incoming parking price hike

Toowoomba Regional Council has announced fees for parking in the Garden City are due to increase in a matter of weeks. It has also revealed the reason behind the price hike, and how it will affect your wallet.

Parking fees in Toowoomba are on the rise from July 5.

Maintenance costs, equipment upgrades and payment options are driving an increase in parking fees across the Garden City.

Toowoomba Regional Council on Friday announced parking fees would increase by 10 cents per hour to a maximum additional charge of 50 cents per day in both on and off-street parking locations.

The changes will be introduced on July 5.

Central Carpark is exempt from these changes, which will remain at $1 per hour.

Councillor Melissa Taylor said it would be the first increase in parking fees and charges in three years.

“It’s an appropriate time to make changes to the fees after deferring the increase in 2020 given the region’s circumstances in relation to COVID-19 have improved greatly since the same time last year,” Ms Taylor said.

“Increases to council’s fees and charges assist council with the costs of operating and maintaining our carparks along with progressively upgrading parking meters to facilitate payment by credit card and future smart parking initiatives.”

Free one-hour parking is still available on Ruthven and Margaret Streets in Toowoomba’s CBD, in Margaret Street between Neil and Victoria Streets and Ruthven Street between Herries Street and Chalk Drive.

Residents also can take advantage of a number of five and 10-minute parking bays in both Ruthven and Margaret Streets.

Parking fees were due to rise in 2020 but the council waived all parking charges in April last year as part of its $10.5 million stage one pandemic economic relief package.

At the same time, the council deferred the usual biennial increase to parking fees to continue to provide economic relief and support for city business.