The Strand community’s stance against paid parking measures

A North Ward restaurant owner fears his lunch traffic will drop by half if parking meters are rolled out in the area as he joins others begging councillors to overturn their decision.

Parking at the Strand. While the central part was busy at midday on Thursday, a prominent business owner said the further ends had greater vacancy rates. Picture: Shae Beplate.

A North Ward restaurant owner has urged Townsville City Council to “speak to the people” and overturn its decision to install paid parking meters along The Strand.

The council will debate pausing the rollout of parking meters for four months at next week’s meeting, but the last time it held a vote on the issue it was defeated six to five.

If defeated again this would mean that the parking meters would expand beyond the CBD to North Ward, South Townsville and the health precinct in Pimlico.

However, business owners only need to persuade one councillor among the majority to change their stance in order to see the rollout paused.

Earlier this week, The Strand Souvlaki Bar owner Chris Papageorge attended a meeting between business leaders, councillors and executive Matt Richardson, who had recommended the measure to generate revenue for the ageing infrastructure.

Souvlaki Bar owner Chris Papageorge is concerned his lunch traffic would be cut by half following a parking meter rollout. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The Strand was developed 25 years ago and considered a legacy project of ex-Mayor Tony Mooney, who has criticised the position of six councillors supporting the parking meter rollout, one of whom is his son Liam.

Mr Richardson said previously new parking meter revenue would generate $4m each year, and would cost $517,000 to maintain.

The meeting was described as emotive by attendees who said some councillors did not read the room well, with one attempting humour and another using parking studies conducted in Texas USA to justify the rollout.

Infrastructure and operations director Matt Richardson at a Townsville City Council general meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The Strand’s divisional councillor Ann-Maree Greaney, who spoke in the private meeting, previously stated during council hours that it was a “considered decision” necessary to fund essential services.

“I think if we went out and said to everyone ‘would you like to pay for parking?

“Yes’ said no one ever, it’s just one of the things that happen in the world.”

Division 3 councillor Ann-Maree Greaney and Division 4 councillor Kristian Price. Picture: Evan Morgan

The private meeting was the first time Mr Papageorge had met any of the councillors about the issue, including Ms Greaney, which he said was “appalling” considering how much the issue would impact him.

“Over 50 per cent of my lunch trade is they park, they come and eat, and they go again,” he told the Bulletin.

Customers had told him they were reluctant to pay more money, even if $2 extra an hour, for them to eat, and he said this would impact all the eateries in the area.

Townsville resident Julie Fleming likes to drink a coffee on The Strand frequently, but said if she stayed more than 15 minutes each time she did so after the parking meter rollout, that coffee would increase by $2. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Marina resident Julie Fleming was concerned about the “principle” behind the issue.

“It will affect me personally because I pay for my parking already, within the marina, but people are going to come along there and park in the free parking area even though they’re not supposed to be there, and I’m not going to be able to get a park that I have already paid for,” Ms Fleming said.

“I don’t feel the council has represented the business owners’ interest in this matter or the members of the public.”

The Strand Motel would also be impacted even though it had its own car spaces for customers, with staff wary that day visitors may try to park there to avoid parking fees.

Owner Jim Dawes said he was concerned for workers in the area who would be shouldering the extra costs, while the council was already making money off these businesses’ rates.

“Everybody’s got to have workers,” Mr Dawes said.

“I don’t think they (councillors) know enough about The Strand.

“They ought to spent some time on The Strand and find they’ll do it a disservice if they put parking meters in.”

Originally published as The Strand community’s stance against paid parking measures