The wagons are circling around a proposal to start slugging motorists to park in the CBD, with commercial operators hungry for a slice of the action.
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It comes after council’s Melbourne-based transport consultant recommended fewer parks in the CBD to encourage for-profit parking providers and the introduction of parking meters.
The majority of households in Wagga – close to 71 per cent – have one or two cars.
Car ownership is on the up, with the number number of local households with two or more cars increasing since 2006 and the proportion of carless homes has dropped.
The chief executive of the national body representing the interests of the parking industry, Lorraine Duffy, echoed the report’s suggestion retail trade is boosted by parking meters.
According to Ms Duffy, more than 30 per cent of congestion in metropolitan areas is caused by motorists searching for a park.
“We’d all like to see free on-street parking, but it doesn't work,” she said.
“If staff can park in front of the shop where they work, they will.
“That means you don’t get the required turn-over of parks to sustain vibrant retail trade.”
However, Ms Duffy agreed with local business people that a transport strategy focused on walking and public transport was a city-centric luxury.
“If this was Sydney with high-rise buildings and regular trains and buses then it would make sense to reduce the number of parks because it makes building cheaper,” she said.
“However, Wagga doesn't have a great bus network and most people don’t live in the city, they live in the suburbs and outlying towns.
“Most people who come to shop want to park their car, do the shopping for an hour and move on.”
Thirteen per cent of the Wagga CBD is dedicated to car parks.
Wagga has 4,435 off-street car parks within the central commerce district and a further 3,198 spaces available on-street.
According to council, the peak period for parking is between noon and 1pm.
Read and respond to the transport report online at wagga.nsw.gov.au/ourtransport.