North Hobart Community Association calls for end to ‘divisive’ parking meter debate

A petition to remove parking meters from North Hobart has been labelled “divisive” and potentially “harmful”, with a community group urging people to accept the meters are here to stay.

A COMMUNITY group has slammed those against parking meters in North Hobart for being “divisive”.

North Hobart Community Association spokeswoman Jenny Smith said she was concerned by the current debate about the meters, after a motion to suspend the metres failed to receive support at a council meeting last week.

“The petition calling for the removal of parking meters is not only unnecessary, it risks being divisive, even harmful,” Ms Smith said.

“The raised voices and negativity in Council meetings and the media isn’t helpful or productive.

“Sadly, it has spilled into the community.”

Ms Smith said the community association aimed to represent residents and visitors in North Hobart.

She said it didn’t have a position on parking times and payments.

“I think we need to accept that parking meters play a role in traffic management, and that they will arrive in other inner-city shopping precincts as well,” she said.

A parking meter sign on the North Hobart restaurant strip.

Alderman Marti Zucco had intended to move a motion at last week’s council meeting to have the meters removed from the busy North Hobart strip, amid claims it was affecting the turnover of businesses.

He instead moved a motion for the meters to be suspended, which failed to gain majority support.

Ms Smith said the petition that led to Ald Zucco moving the motion put community members in an awkward position.

“I have been asked in several local shops to sign the petition,” she said.

“I do not like to have to refuse, nor to have to explain my position.”

North Hobart resident Graeme Birch said there were likely other reasons the strip had experienced a drop in visitors.

“There would be many factors – the pandemic, restaurant competition from nearby areas,” Mr Birch said.

“There is certainly nothing to be gained in creating an atmosphere of conflict, nor spreading the notion that there are serious parking problems, when there are not.”

One of the new parking meters in North Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Birch said those upset about the meters should focus more on selling the area.

“Councillors and trader representatives could and should be talking up the precinct, and working with residents, ratepayers and the wider community to improve and revitalise it,” he said.

“The two carparks in the precinct that are now free after 6pm could be mentioned as a selling point.”

Hobart council CEO Kelly Grigsby committed to a review of the meters and the matter will go before the council in the coming weeks.

“These are management matters,” Ms Smith said.

“We understand that the council will review the effectiveness of the current parking arrangements, including the meters, make any necessary adjustments, and communicate these with the public.

“We certainly call on Council to do so.”

Move to suspend NoHo parking meters rejected

A motion to suspend parking meters from the main strip in North Hobart has been voted down by the Hobart council 6-5 votes.

The motion was moved by Alderman Marti Zucco, after a petition which garnered more than 1000 signatures was submitted by businesses to council earlier this month.

Those supporting the petition called for an overhaul of the meters, claiming they were confusing customers and driving business away from the area.

The Elizabeth St strip currently allows for 30-minute parking between 9am and 9pm with payment required from 11am-2pm and 5-8pm.

Marti Zucco on the North Hobart restaurant strip. Marti Zucco has become the longest serving Hobart City Council alderman having been elected in 1992. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Ald Zucco said businesses in North Hobart had suffered since the meters were put in place.

“These are all small family run businesses,” Ald Zucco said.

“I’ve had two businesses speak to me say they’re losing between $4000 and $5000 a week.”

Ald Zucco said it would benefit business owners to have the meters suspended.

“We are destroying the fabric of North Hobart,” Ald Zucco said.

“There’s no parking meters in South Hobart or in West Hobart.”

City Innovation Director Pete Carr said businesses were consulted before the meters were put in.

“The North Hobart traders represent themselves as an association to us, there are a number of individual businesses we spoke to,” Mr Carr said.

“There’s more use of car space, the turnover of car spaces is more and the number of infringements issued by officers is less.”

Breaking News Breaking News The updated parking meter signs on North Hobart strip. Supplied photo.

The Hobart Council CEO Kelly Grigsby had committed to an urgent review of issues raised in the Petition, with an action plan to be created.

Councillor Mike Dutta moved the review continue and that a report be handed down in the coming weeks.

“We don’t know if the parking is the problem, that’s why we need a report,” Cr Dutta said.

“We do not need to act now, because it’s not looking at an overall problem,” Cr Helen Burnett said

“We should wait for this report to see if there are consequences,” Cr Zelinda Sherlock said

The issue is expected to be revisited in three weeks.

“This council has lost the plot tonight,” Ald Zucco said.

Ald Zucco’s motion had also called for the council to support a marketing program to reinvigorate business in the area.