North Ward Shopping Village carpark and business owners face parking challenges

Business owners face a hit to their bottom lines and free carparks could become a flashpoint, as Townsville’s paid parking expansion looms. See results from a paid parking study.

Knight Frank Townsville senior partner Craig Stack has criticised Townsville City Council's plan to expand paid parking. Picture: Supplied.

The risk of motorists inundating free carparks like North Ward Shopping Village was just one of the many problems flagged by the business community relating to Townsville City Council’s plan to expand paid parking.

Controversy erupted in July after the majority of Townsville City Councillors voted in favour of ramping up the price of parking and switching on extra parking meters areas around The Strand, Gregory St, Mitchell St, Palmer St and the Fulham Rd medical precinct from January 6, 2025.

Knight Frank manages various commercial properties in North Ward and Pimlico adjacent to the streets that were proposed for inclusion in the paid parking expansion.

Authorised to speak on behalf of landlords and properties in North Ward, including North Ward Shopping Village, Knight Frank Townsville senior partner Craig Stack wrote to Townsville City Council in mid-August to outline the negative impacts of expanded paid parking.

Knight Frank's Craig Stack. Picture: Leighton Smith.

In a letter shared with the Townsville Bulletin, Mr Stack says that properties providing parking to customers and staff at the owner’s cost and directed by previous council approvals would be “heavily impacted” by Townsville City Council’s paid parking decision.

He said it would negatively impact on customer convenience, reduce turnover for operators (particularly small businesses), create financial pain for staff, and impair productivity when staff left to feed meters and repark cars.

The North Ward Shopping Village carpark could be flooded by vehicles looking to avoid paid parking. Picture: Supplied.

Paid parking expansion at Gregory St and the surrounding area. Picture: TCC.

“The most concerning impact of this decision is the impact upon the business operators within the precincts the parking proposal is being applied to,” Mr Stack said.

“(Paid parking) will encourage the use of the free parking that exists within the properties managed by Knight Frank by car owners not seeking to patronise the businesses in these properties.

“This will directly inhibit the convenience required for the successful business operations within these properties.”

Mr Stack said major events on the Strand already reduced sales turnover for retailers in the North Ward Shopping Centre, which would be “difficult to tolerate on a permanent basis”.

He quoted two detailed studies that examined how paid parking hurt businesses.

The North Ward Shopping Village carpark could be flooded by vehicles looking to avoid paid parking. Picture: Supplied.

Written by Dr Gary Au and Professor William Young, ‘A Users’ Perspective of Paid Parking at a Local Retail Precinct’ study analysed paid parking’s introduction at Yarraville Village, Melbourne in late August 2015, until it was abandoned due to public concerns in early December 2015.

Over this time, 65.6 per cent of surveyed respondents were influenced by paid parking’s introduction to shop elsewhere more often, reducing grocery and discretionary spending at impacted businesses.

Paid parking expansion at The Strand and the surrounding area. Picture: TCC.

Customer visit frequency dropped from three times per week to one, with the visit duration reducing from 97min to 54min, with less shops visited, less money spent, and 15.3 per cent of customers never returning.

North Ward resident Andrew contacted the Townsville Bulletin to echo Mr Stack’s concerns about paid parking’s impact on the North Ward Shopping Village car park.

“It is hard enough to get a park now, but now everyone using the Strand and restaurants will use the Coles car park. Were any of the locals consulted?” he asked.

Multiple businesses have blasted the lack of consultation around the paid parking expansion in South Townsville. Pictures: Supplied.

“What solutions have the councillors discussed to address this matter for the local North Ward constituents?”

A Townsville City Council spokeswoman said they were moving forward with additional paid parking to increases parking bay turnover and balance the needs of businesses, residents and workers.

“Council has been in discussion with North Ward Shopping Village’s property management team to work towards a solution for the centre’s parking as it frequently reaches capacity, however a permanent solution for this issue ultimately rests with the property’s owner,” the spokeswoman said.

President of the Chamber of Commerce Miranda Mears said council's decision to implement paid parking on the Strand was a 'slap in the face'. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“Free parking locations have always been available on a first-come, first-served basis and will continue to operate this way.

“Council will be introducing additional free parking along areas of Fryer Street, North Ward and regulated free parking on McIlwraith Street following consultation in these areas.”

For more information on paid parking, visit the council’s website.

Originally published as North Ward Shopping Village carpark and business owners face parking challenges