Hobart remains affordable for CBD parking

Published on 30 July 2021

Hobart remains one of the most affordable capital cities in Australia for CBD parking, even after recent changes to some parking fees.

City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby said the Council was committed to ensuring that CBD parking remained affordable and accessible.

“While some parking fees increased from 1 July, in many cases there were minimal or no increases to the fees,” Ms Grigsby said.

“City of Hobart will also continue to provide more than 1.3 million hours of free parking in off-street car parks this year.

“No one really likes paying for parking, but there are good reasons for it.

“Without controls, drivers would take CBD parking spots every morning and stay all day which is not a good outcome for anyone.

“Fees also help to fund ongoing parking infrastructure maintenance and meet the growing cost of delivering the many services which the people of Hobart rightly expect.

“Those services include things like good roads, accessible bushland, enjoyable parks, emergency management and essential waste and stormwater services.”

Ms Grigsby said higher fees for premium CBD short-stay parking spaces played an important role in the life of the city.

“The higher prices for these premium spaces encourage people to stay only a short while which helps ensure that more people can find one of these high-demand parking spots when and where they need one.”

Ms Grigsby said that the recent fee increases, which came after a freeze on fees for the whole of 2020-21, was partly in response to COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has had a big impact on our budget, and therefore the funding available to provide many services to our community,” she said.

“Parking income is one part of a bigger effort to respond to the unprecedented financial impacts of COVID-19 to ensure that we can continue to provide high-quality services.”

Ms Grigsby said that changes to parking in North Hobart had occurred after significant consultation with residents and retailers and had been broadly welcomed.

Metered parking now operates in the main North Hobart Elizabeth Street strip during peak lunch and evening periods (11am-2pm and 5pm-8pm). It remains free, though time controlled, at all other times.

Council also made Condell Place and Lefroy Street carparks free from 6pm to support customers and traders.  

“Since these changes, which were requested by North Hobart locals, both precinct occupancy and compliance in North Hobart have increased, meaning more access for more people and fewer infringements,” Ms Grigsby said.

Suggestions that the City’s Parking Officers were encouraged to book vehicles were flatly rejected by Ms Grigsby.

“Let me be absolutely clear – there are no quotas, no targets, and no benchmarks for issuing parking fines.

“Our Parking and Information Officers are primarily encouraged to provide information and guidance to motorists.

“And they always offer a grace time of several minutes for all overstay and non-payment before issuing an infringement notice.”

Council provided over 2.5 million minutes of on-street parking in grace time in the last 12 months.

Hobart and Darwin and the two most affordable capital cities in Australia for CBD parking.

Anyone wanting to find out more about City of Hobart’s parking fees can visit the Council’s website at www.hobartcity.com.au/City-services/Parking.