Hobart City Council to make NoHo parking signage clearer, uproar continues over new meters

Confusion over new parking meters could soon end, but traders drawing parallels to a situation on the mainland remain fearful paying to park could kill the popular business strip. LATEST >>

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Confusion over new parking meters could soon end, but traders drawing parallels to a situation on the mainland remain fearful paying to park could kill the popular business strip.

Business owners along the busy Elizabeth St restaurant section at North Hobart have launched a petition to reverse a Hobart City Council decision made in May to meter the street’s 9am-9pm 30-minute parking spaces between 11am-2pm and 5-8pm.

The new parking signs with split payment and non payment times. Businesses have said the meters and signs are causing stress for customers and doing damage to small business. Picture: Richard Jupe

State Cinema owner and North Hobart Traders Association vice-president John Kelly has watched the hub boom over 25 years, but he feared North Hobart might suffer the same fate as a similar retail and hospitality precinct in Yarraville, West Melbourne.

“When they introduced the meters about 10 years ago it absolutely killed a lot of small businesses and in the end they ripped them out,” Mr Kelly said.

“We’ve been burdened with these extra parking meters which are creating a mental and financial barrier for people wanting to stop by.”

Condell Place carpark

Mr Kelly said many customers had issues using the meters.

“I even have trouble with them at times,” he said.

“The council’s obsession with money making from parking is ridiculous. It’s crossed the line.”

HCC has told the Mercury their signage team will amend the wording on the signs to make parking instructions clearer.

Mr Kelly said the meters had appeared “without any proper consultations”.

But HCC CEO Kelly Grigsby has said “numerous discussions” were held with NHTA representatives, including a meeting at Town Hall late last year.

“Full details of the proposed parking changes were provided (at the meeting),” Ms Grigsby said.

TAS_SUN_NEWS_FUTURE HOBART_1JULY17

“The inclusion of paid parking at peak times as part of a strategic response to address concerns raised by the group was part of the proposal.”

NHTA president and Capital restaurant owner Aaron Brazendale said any forewarning from council about the meters “slipped under the radar”, with the decision to install them surprising many traders.

“Straight away there’s a lot of confusion with the signage,” he said.

“It has a negative impact on the clientele because they get a bitter taste in their mouth if they get a ticket, it’s an extra $40 to $60 on top of their meal.”