Free parking in Dalby to support local retailers

After comprehensive consultation with the local business community, Western Downs Regional Council has come to a decision about the 204 parking meters currently installed across Dalby’s CBD.

The good news is that Council is going to be removing metered parking in Dalby’s town centre, with meters to be discontinued from this coming Monday.

With the current parking meters chalking up many years of wear and tear, the estimated cost to replace with modern, multi-bay meters was $450,000.

Council recently conducted a survey of local businesses with two options – to discontinue the meter system or replace the current meters with contemporary multi-bay meters.

Spokesperson for Economic Development Councillor Donna Ashurst said that Dalby businesses welcomed their input through the survey.

“We had a good response from the business community and Council really appreciates that people have taken the time to respond with a variety of views about the parking meters,” she said.

“One thing that has come through loud and clear is that business houses want car parks available for their customers and in return, customers want the convenience of having a car park near the shop or business house they’re visiting.

“Council felt that customers continuing to pay small change into meters was no longer having a positive outcome for Dalby’s town centre.”

Cr Ashurst emphasised that Council staff will continue to monitor and enforce time limits on vehicles parked in Dalby’s main street.

“A car being parked all day in a signed parking bay will still be a no-go, ” she said.

“There will still be signage indicating how long a vehicle is allowed to park in a bay, which will range from 15 minutes up to two hours.

People know that we take a reasonable stance when issuing parking tickets, but the community should also know that we have recently stepped up our patrols.”

Ten facts about the parking meters in Dalby

1. The first parking meters were installed in 1967, many of which are still in operation 2. Reviews into metered parking in Dalby have been undertaken only twice since then: 1994 and 2006 3. Council’s Economic Development team consulted with Dalby CBD businesses in June, with a survey to gather opinions on the meters 4. There are 204 metered parking bays across Dalby’s CBD, many of these meters are damaged 5. Some of these are the older mechanical style, some are digital 6. The current meters are no longer being manufactured, maintained or serviced by the supplier 7. The current fee of ten cents per half-hour was implemented in 1994 and has remained unchanged for 24 years 8. The two options considered were to introduce unmetered parking and decommission the meters OR replace the old meters with contemporary ones 9. Signage will indicate the timeframe for free parking, from 15 minutes up to 2 hours 10. The meters will be decommissioned Monday 22 July, with signage, footpath and paving repairs to be completed prior to Christmas.

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Media Contact: Melanie Coultas | Senior Media & Communications Officer | 0419 048 594