Hobart drivers could park on the street for free if they get back to their car on time, under a proposal going to the city council on Monday.
Alderman Marti Zucco wants the council to trial free parking at selected metered spaces in the CBD, with drivers only charged if they overstay.
He is also asking the council to immediately double the free first hour in its multi-storey car parks to two hours.
Under the on-street trial, drivers would register their car through an app or a meter. They would get a text three to five minutes before their time ran out.
Anyone who stayed too long would pay $5 after a three-minute grace period, then another $10 if they were more than 10 minutes over.
A second trial, called ‘Shop and Save’, would give shoppers up to two hours free in one council car park if they spent at least $20 in the city.
Zucco says CBD businesses are losing out to suburban shopping centres, some of which offer up to four hours free parking.
“Rather than viewing parking solely as a source of revenue, council can use parking policy as a practical investment in Hobart’s economic future,” he wrote.
“Ultimately the carparking fund is generated by those who use carparks and this initiative will not be a direct cost to ratepayers’ rate base but underwritten by those who use carparks.”
But council officers are not convinced.
They say the plan “would however represent a significant departure from established parking management principles”.
On-street parking brings the council about $8 million a year.
Officers have warned free parking would push up demand, leave fewer spaces free and add to congestion, because more drivers would circle looking for a spot.
They also point out the council is already looking at retailer discounts and loyalty schemes through its future state of parking review.
Their advice is to fold Zucco’s ideas into that review rather than run them as separate trials.
Zucco wants a report back within four to six months.
Councillors will debate the motion at their meeting on Monday.
