Free parking across city for Christmas

THE City of Ballarat has announced parking will be free across the municipality between 1 December and 31 January.

While time limits will still apply, the move comes as the city seeks to roll out its new parking infrastructure.

Freshly minted Mayor, Cr Ben Taylor said the announcement of free parking would be great for Christmas shoppers.

“People say council is the Grinch, but we’re not,” he said. “Christmas is coming early.”

“Something we hear about at Christmas time is parking. That awkwardness with the coins if you don’t have the coins.

“We’re removing the meters between 1 December and 31 January and the parking will be free. You don’t have to put any money in or swipe or anything like that.”

Free parking over the first two months of summer is due to the roll-out of new parking meters and infrastructure ahead of the city’s new parking plan.

All current old meters will be switched off, removed and replaced with new technology.

“Across this city there are so many different types of parking meters; coin only and there’s some card swipe,” he said.  “We’re seeing something like 100 faults a day with these meters. It’s actually causing pain.”

Because time limits will still be enforced and parking inspectors out and about during December and January, the city hopes the move will be a dry run for implementation of the new parking plan that will allow for one-hour free parking.

“We need turnover, but really what we want is people in the city, shopping locally and this is a great opportunity to do it,” Cr Taylor said.