Struggling CBD traders look set to get an early Christmas present with Warrnambool councillors backing a move that could see more free parking over the festive season.
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Mayor Tony Herbert said that he would like to see things in the CBD to be "supercharged", not just return to normal after the $15 million revamp.
Councillors backed Cr Peter Hulin's motion at Monday's meeting to consider free parking before 10am and after 4pm between December 9 and January 31 in Parkers, Ozone and the Crammond and Dickson car parks. Parking in the three car parks would remain free on weekends.
While the move would cost the council about $20,000 in lost revenue, councillors hope it would ease the financial pressure on businesses.
While it is not yet a done deal, Mr Hulin said it was designed to get the conversation started and he foreshadowed more relief for traders in the future.
"This is something that will go to the budget process to try and reinvigorate the CBD after all the works that have been done," Cr Hulin said.
"When parking was introduced, shopping in general was completely different than what it is today." He said parking meters were brought in to control cars that were staying too long.
Cr Hulin said that with so many pressures on businesses from online shopping, offering some free car parking was a small way the council could help.
With the council's half-year budget looking healthy, and the parking meters bringing in more money than expected, Cr Hulin said it was worth looking at the idea during the budget process to see if it was affordable.
"For the small amount of money it will cost us to introduce this, it would send a very good message to the businesses and people of Warrnambool," he said.
Mayor Tony Herbert said he was not opposed to the idea of more free parking and described it as an opportunity for the council to do as much as it could to assist with the revitalisation of the city centre after the major refurbishment.
He said while things appeared to be back to normal in the CBD, there were still challenges for some traders.
Cr Herbert said it was not about getting the CBD back to normal. "I'd like to do what we can to supercharge it," he said.
Cr Hulin's idea would also be put forward as part of the city's car parking strategy that is under way.
Cr Robert Anderson, a former CBD retailer, said he would like the dates to be from December 1 to January 31, and queried whether having both morning and afternoon free parking would confuse people.
Cr Sue Cassidy, a CBD business owner, declared a conflict of interest and did not vote.
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