The time limit would shift from two hours to three and fall in line with the limit now in use at the Orange City Centre car park on the other side of Summer Street.

Centre marketing manager Dana Irving said the centre owner Charter Hall was in talks with Orange City Council and Kmart about extending the time limit.

“At this point in time a decision has not been made between the three parties as to when and if this will change,” she said.

“Charter Hall owns three internal levels and one external level [of the building],” she said.

“Kmart owns one internal level and one external level where Kmart Tyre and Auto is based.”

Shopper Robyn Giles said changes were needed to improve shopping in the Orange CBD.

“The two hour parking in most car parks is not enough time to shop and have lunch or a meal in town, especially for the elderly,” she said.

People were divided on the issue on the Central Western Daily Facebook page.

Margaret Thomson said she was concerned workers would take the spots.

“Staff will tend to fill more car parks if the limits are increased. Leaves less room for customers,” she said.

Robyn Maw said a time extension elsewhere had led to staff parking there.

“It happened [when] The Summer Centre first reopened and there was four hour parking in a section, now it's two hour,” she said.

Patricia Daniel also said it would mainly benefit workers.

“I can't even go shopping at either for three hours. Not enough shops for that,” she said.

However, Aaron Pearson backed the plan. “Absolutely. The same should apply to the city centre,” he said.

“[At] busy times such as Christmas there are long lines in shops and the last thing someone wants to see is a ticket under their windscreen wiper.

“It also unfair for store employees to have to move their cars so frequently during their shifts so I think a three hour limit is a welcome idea.”

A spokesman for the council said the car park operators paid for parking officers to patrol the car parks but council would not need to approve changes to time limits.

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“Council is in discussion with the owners of the car parks to avoid potential confusion for drivers if there is a difference in hours,” he said.

“The time limits, or whether the parking is free or paid is essentially up to the individual car park operators.”

A Kmart spokeswoman confirmed they were in negotiations about the parking.