SINK OR SWIM: Orange City Council will tackle some of the ongoing parking problems around the city. Photo: STEVE GOSCH
The Central Western Daily receives regular feedback from people at their wit’s end about parking in Orange. In no particular order, here are the 10 key problems that have arisen in the past year.
- Costs of new car parks
The current state of play means building owners are spared thousands in parking contributions when a changed building use leads to a parking shortage. It’s left council with a black hole in the budget for new car parks, with one councillor even suggesting it should be left to ratepayers to pay an extra levy.
- Anson Street car park
At this point no developers are willing to overhaul the car park meaning the congestion problems will be here to stay - for now. The Summer Centre will take some pressure off, but with confusing line marking and a dangerous mix of pedestrians, cars and delivery vehicles the Woolworths car park remains an issue.
- Hospital car parking
While it’s not strictly their responsibility, councillors have weighed in heavily on the debate suggesting everything from paid parking to multi-storey car parks to fix the shortage.
- Disabled parking shortage
Orange’s 1584 disability permit holders share just 43 disabled parking spaces.
- Orange Central car park
The council is currently considering what legal options it has to force the managers of the centre to scrap the car park’s controversial three-hour daily limit.
- Future car parks
Disused netball courts at Moulder Park were a suggested location for a 160-space paid car park. While some said it would be too far away from the CBD, the idea posed questions about where car parks should be in the future and whether multi-storey parking was the answer.
- Business parking in residential areas
The problem was highlighted by residents near Byng Street Local Store who were tired of the cafe’s customers disobeying parking rules. While changes to signage in the area eased the issue, inconsiderate customers visiting cafes and businesses in other residential areas pose a challenge for council.
- Fines for parking over the lines
Lines painted in Lords Place were seen as a solution to free up more spaces. But they were soon labelled revenue raisers for the council when residents started copping fines for hanging over the lines.
- 15 minute zone outside Centrelink
The problem may have been eased somewhat since signs were put up directing customers to the car park behind the office. But drivers still overstay their welcome and worse still park outside the lines overlapping onto the highway. This 15 minute zone is one area the parking officers struggle to monitor.
- Shortage versus perception
For some people, the key problem with parking in Orange is there is none. There is often debate whether it is the unrealistic expectation some drivers have about finding a car park right outside where they need to go that is the real issue and not a parking shortage.