Wollongong is a city masquerading as a big, comfortable country town. It doesn't have Sydney type traffic jams - the pace of life is less frenetic - and it doesn't have parking meters.
That is about to change ! Councillors claim parking meters will be " revenue neutral ", but in fact they will fractionally reduce the amount of street parking available and drive the majority to shun the CBD in favour of the free parking at regional shopping centres.
If parking meters are installed each space will be calculated to accommodate one of the biggest cars made - the Ford Fairlane or the Holden Caprice. More smaller, compact cars can shuffle into existing kerb space.
We already have controlled parking in this city. Kerbside parking is regulated by time restrictions and an army of rangers issues fines for those who overstay.
The same army of rangers would be needed to monitor parking meters - and write ticket fines for those who offend.
The only difference is that kerbside parking is presently free - and metered slots would reap a bonanza of cash from that same space. So much for the claim that meters would be revenue neutral !
The proposal includes meters for the CBD shopping precinct - and meters at every beach and tourist destination. It seems we are intending to impose the " Sydney disease " on Wollongong - where hopping in the car and taking Mum and the kids to the beach for a swim is fast fading into an impossible dream.
Not only are the meters rapacious in the rate of charge per hour, but there is the misery of trekking back and forth to feed money into the hungry monsters !
Hopefully wise heads will think long and hard before making a final decision.
Wollongong has it all when it comes to life style. If access to the shopping precinct at the CBD is the aim a better result would come from a park and ride scheme to allow cars to stay out of the CBD - and remove any hassle of finding a parking space.
It would also be the cheapest option !
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