General News
10 August, 2023
Council to begin enforcing CBD parking restrictions
Starting next month, drivers could find themselves with a ticket on their cars as part of council’s crackdown on motorists who park longer than permitted on Maryborough’s main streets. Local shop owners have raised concerns over losing potential...

Starting next month, drivers could find themselves with a ticket on their cars as part of council’s crackdown on motorists who park longer than permitted on Maryborough’s main streets.
Local shop owners have raised concerns over losing potential customers due to lack of parking as a high number of drivers continue to leave their cars parked in the town’s CBD throughout the day, despite a time-limit of one hour allocated to those spaces — something that hasn’t been enforced for many years.
Stepping in to improve the situation, the Central Goldfields Shire Council has announced its decision to hand out warnings to people who overstay in time designated parking spots for the remainder of this month — with the grace period coming to an end from September onwards after which fines, ranging between $65 to $188, will be issued for the same offence.
“Over recent times businesses, key service providers and the community have raised concerns regarding persons parking all day throughout the Maryborough [CBD] in areas that are time restricted,” council’s general manager infrastructure, assets & planning Matthew Irving said.
“This has subsequently reduced the ability for customers and users to utilise these time limited car parking spaces when undertaking shopping and access to services.
“Implementing an enforcement approach to encourage parking turnover will increase the availability of spaces for customers and visitors to access, resulting in direct economic uplift for local traders and businesses in the Maryborough activity centre.”
According to Mr Irving, there is no shortage of parking spaces, with two all-day carparks near High Street including one on Clarendon Street and the other accessible through Alma Street, on Nolan Lane.
“There are a large number of spaces located throughout the activity centre,” he said.
“[Our enforcement] will result in the need for people using parking for long stays to identify locations that facilitate this.
“Spaces are located within walking distance of the main activity centre that do facilitate long term stays, and employees of businesses are encouraged to use these spaces.”
While parking in a time designated space for a duration that exceeds the limit is already a fineable offence, council is pushing for a smoother transition in the community by first issuing warnings.
“As parking enforcement has not been carried out in the main activity centre of Maryborough for a long period of time, a period of education is being implemented to support the behavioural change around car parking,” Mr Irving said.
“This program is seeking to change behaviour and an initial phase of warnings will seek to increase the likelihood of this being achieved.”
Welcoming the move, business owners like Maryborough quilt shop Cara Lou Lou’s Kerry Duffin said a change was needed to support stores.
“The parking situation out the front, in High Street mostly, does impact all the businesses,” she said.
“A lot of people that come into my business are mature and so they can’t walk very far and they find it very difficult if they can’t get a park close. Most times they’ll just keep travelling and not stop so it does have an impact.
“I do support council’s decision. I’ve thought about it for quite a while and I know a lot of people are really upset that they might get a parking fine but it’s there for a reason. It’s there to help everybody, not just a few individuals.”
