Geelong parking push hopes to boost business

VISITORS to central Geelong usually spend just fifty-eight minutes and the City hopes its new parking initiative will encourage shoppers to stay longer and boost local business.

Motorists can now pay for one hour of parking and they will automatically receive the second hour free in all 2P parking zones in the CBD.

The additional hour is provided to the vehicle rather than to a fixed parking bay, which provides greater flexibility for visitors to the CBD.

The new incentive will replace the free 30 minutes in 2P parking zones previously trialed by the municipality.

Payments solutions for on-street parking continue to be available, including pay-by-phone apps EziCom and EasyPark, as well as tap-and-go systems.

This technology, along with the requirement for registration numbers to be entered in at parking meters, eliminates the need for motorists to display a ticket in their vehicle.

The 15-minute grace period that lets drivers get back to their car before parking limits are enforced will continue.

City of Greater Geelong deputy mayor Trent Sullivan said the new offer was included in the 2021-22 municipal budget to act as an incentive for people to stay longer in central Geelong and support more CBD businesses

“Data shows that the typical length of stay in a 2P park is 58 minutes, so this initiative has been introduced to help extend the time of these visits and provide more opportunity for spending,” Cr Sullivan said.

“This is an innovative solution that benefits both the businesses and visitors to Central Geelong.”

Councillor Eddy Kontelj said council was committed to supporting the community, central Geelong businesses and increasing expenditure and visitation to our CBD.

“This on-street free parking initiative, available all weekdays, is unprecedented,” Cr Kontelj said.

“Coupled with the already free on-street weekend parking, we are now demonstrating to the community and to CBD businesses that we are listening and we really care.”