Uber delivery drivers slammed as “lazy” by Hobart City councillor Marti Zucco
An active member of the North Hobart community has fired up about food delivery drivers on the Elizabeth St as parking around the popular precinct gets an overhaul. LATEST + CHANGES >>
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THE concerns of North Hobart residents and traders were front of mind during the development of new parking rules, a Hobart Alderman says.
Under changes approved by Hobart City Council on Monday, paid parking will be introduced in the Elizabeth Street restaurant zone from 11am-2pm and 5pm-8pm.
Parking will cost $1 per half-hour during these times.
Meanwhile will become free in the Condell Place and Lefroy St carparks after 6pm to cater for restaurant dinner patrons.
The cost of parking the carparks at other times will also be reduced to $2 an hour.
In addition, line marking will be placed in surrounding streets where commuter parking is frustrating residents.
Alderman Marti Zucco said the parking charges to be introduced on Elizabeth St during peak dining times were to stop Uber Eats drivers “abusing” the current half-hour free parking.
“It’s to try and stop them from parking during the busy times there,” he said.
Ald Zucco said 15 parking bays had been put aside in the Condell Place and Lefroy St carparks to cater for Uber Eats drivers however they were not regularly used.
“They’re just too bloody lazy to park in the carpark and walk out the front,” he said.
Ald Zucco said the decision to make parking free in off-street carparks in the evenings was to support diners and traders.
“This will be in line with Salamanca and I think it’s only fair and reasonable that the carparking stops at 6pm,” he said.
Businesses in the North Hobart dining and shopping precinct have reported that parking problems are causing them to lose trade.
A number of traders have reported trade dropping further as parking problems intensified with the arrival of food delivery services such as Uber Eats.
Ald Zucco said the state government should step in to regulate food delivery drivers.
“The council is powerless to move on the food delivery drivers,” he said.
“This is where the Minister must act and put in legislation that these people must be registered.”
COUNCIL HITS NORTH HOBART PARKING WOES WITH MAJOR CHANGES
PARKING will be made free of charge at North Hobart’s off-street carparks after 6pm under changes approved by Hobart City Council.
Council will also introduce charges for parking at certain times on Elizabeth St in the North Hobart dining strip.
Parking on Elizabeth Street between Federal and Burnett streets will be limited to 30 minutes, at a cost of $1 for half an hour, from 11am-2pm and 5pm-8pm.
Parking will be free of charge at other times but the half-hour time limit will remain.
To cater for longer visits, the off-street carparks at Condell Place and Lefroy Street will be free of charge after 6pm for stays of up to three hours.
Prior to 6pm, parking will be $2 an hour – a 30 per cent reduction on current charges.
Line marking will be implemented in six surrounding streets where commuter parking has caused problems for residential access.
A spokeswoman for council said the changes were part of an ongoing program to improve accessibility and travel options in North Hobart, and are being undertaken in full consultation with residents and traders.
Also at Monday night’s meeting Council deferred a decision on a new vision for parking and access to North Hobart.
Council have commissioned consultants Village Well and MRCagney to develop a Place Vision and an Access and Parking Plan for North Hobart, to guide the future delivery of public amenity, access and parking outcomes in the North Hobart Elizabeth Street retail and restaurant strip.
Proposals in the report include:
- INCREASED activation of events in North Hobart’s public spaces including Condell Place carpark
- ATTRACTING a new operator to North Hobart offering convenience products and fresh food
- REVITALISING laneways
- TRIALLING a side street pedestrian plaza off Elizabeth St, with the short term closure of Newdegate St
Alderman Marti Zucco labelled the report “a joke”.
Mr, Ms Zucco said it was written to achieve a predetermined outcome to turn the Condell carpark into a public space when North Hobart was crying out for parking.
Council was to vote on whether to send out a list of questions to traders and residents on their priorities for North Hobart.
However there is currently no specific budgetary allocation to support the majority of the proposals included in the report.
Council was also advised that due to COVID-19 financial restraints there was limited staffing and resource capacity to support, service and maintain the built improvements proposed.
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