Sorting out the free parking issue in the CBD once and for all is the top priority for Warrnambool City Council candidate Max Taylor.
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But that is not the only thing on the agenda for the Liebig Street business owner who wants to see the Lady Bay promenade upgraded.
Mr Taylor said he had had enough of putting in petitions to the council on the parking issue because they didn't seem to work.
"So I've put my hand up for elections," he said.
He said he decided about three weeks ago to run after the decision by council to provide free parking in three off-street car parks between 9am and 11am until January.
Mr Taylor described the decision as "useless" and "not effective" and people were not taking advantage of the free parking.
"It should have been free for two hours any time of the day, five days a week," he said.
"So if you come in at 12 you have two free hours from 12 until 2pm. Nine to 11 was ridiculous."
He wants to see some sort of permanent free parking in the off-street car parks and the main street left as it was.
"The parking was the main issue. It has concerned me enormously. The council have spent $18 million on the city renewal and the CBD is going backwards," he said.
"I want to see the CBD get up on its feet again, get some vitality and activity. Make the CBD buoyant again, bring some life back into it and get the CBD going again."
Mr Taylor said the city's promenade was used by lots of people and he wanted to see it get an overhaul.
"I've been up north and walked on other promenades around Australia, especially the one at Mooloolaba. Their promenade is fantastic," he said.
"Warrnambool's promenade needs a lot of upgrading."
He said Mooloolaba had a fernery in a section and something similar could be done here between Worm Bay and the breakwater.
"It could be turned into a lovely fernery area," he said.
He also wanted the trees cut back to allow more sea views along the promenade.
Mr Taylor would also like to see the gym equipment near the kiosk moved to McGennan's car park beside the promenade so everyone could see it and use it.
"It's a waste down where it is," he said.
"What this city has got on its doorstep is second to none in the world with the beautiful beach and the ocean."
Mr Taylor said the sacking of the CEO 18 months into his contract, was a "great blemish" and "shameful" on the city of Warrnambool
He called for the councillors to "come clean" on the issue.
It is the first time Mr Taylor has run for council and during his 48 years in business he had been a member of every business organisation the city had ever had.
He said he had been on five business groups, was president of the Warrnambool Tourism Association and member of the Chamber of Commerce and CBD Business Action Group.
"I'm very passionate about this city and I've always believed it has huge untapped potential for growth and business ventures," he said.
Mr Taylor said that if everyone traded seven days a week Warrnambool could become the number one, seven-day shopping centre between Geelong and Adelaide.
"It's got a huge amount of potential from that point of view, if elected on the council I would endeavor to go down that path," he said.
Mr Taylor said Parkers and Ozone car parks were paid for by businesses to be kept free, but it was only a verbal agreement.
He said it remained free for about 15 years before staff started to take up all the parks and parking meters were brought in to try and address that.
Other candidates in the running:
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