Brisbane has been increasing the number of metered spaces throughout the city and suburbs, with an additional 3,704 spaces added this year. This brings the total number of metered spaces in Brisbane to 8,500. The council has been driving the installation of the meters, recognising that they are the most effective means to manage competing demands for parking, and allowing everyone a ‘fair go’.
Brisbane’s Deputy Mayor and Infrastructure Chairman Graham Quirk, said that one of the main reasons meters were installed in residential areas of suburbs like Fortitude Valley was because locals were being parked out of their streets by commuters driving in close to the city. Over 50 per cent of the new spaces are ‘resident permit excepted’, allowing residents to park on metered spaces in their area at no charge.
The revenue from the parking fines and meters makes up less than 2 per cent of general revenue of the Council, and according to Cr Quirk, any additional funds received from parking fines are allocated towards improving the city’s footpaths.
Following the recent floods in Brisbane, parking enforcement was put on hold with the aim of assisting the affected residents in the recovery process. The authorities have announced that the parking restrictions will return as of Monday March 7, to be enforced in clearways, bus ways, loading zones, no stopping zones and yellow line zones in all areas of Brisbane. Metered zones will once again be in operation, although some residents will be issued with temporary parking permits due to ongoing damage to underground car parks.