People power has prompted a Wollongong City Council backflip on restrictive parking zones blamed for a dramatic downturn in retail trade in Burelli St.
A week after the Mercury revealed how half-hour zones and the flat $2 parking fee were killing business, the council yesterday agreed to changes.
Parking on Burelli St between Church and Kembla streets will be changed to one-hour zones.
Machines should be reprogrammed by the end of the day on Tuesday, and replacement signs installed soon afterwards.
City Diggers general manager Phil Ryan, a strident critic of the new zone, said the move was a "victory for common sense".
"I am just happy that they changed it for the small businesses down on Burelli St that rely on people who can just come in for an hour," he said.
"But with a proper assessment, the zones would never have been changed to half an hour in the first place," Mr Ryan added.
Almost 40 people - including representatives from businesses on Crown and Burelli streets - criticised the paid parking at the council's meeting on Tuesday.
Gala Trophies owner Gareth Leyshon's fiery address was met with applause from the gallery.
He pleaded for an end to the half-hour zones, saying "you are absolutely killing us guys".
Council general manager David Farmer said the action was in response to genuine concerns and business feedback.
"The vast majority of time zones in the city centre did not change with the introduction of 'pay and display' machines.
"This is one location where we thought a different time would help businesses and we are seeing now this may not be the case."
An independent audit had showed most people parking on Burelli St were heavily overstaying or vacating within 30 minutes.
Mr Leyshon's wife and business partner Diana Leyshon said she had not been optimistic that the council would keep its promise to get back to business owners by the end of the week.
"I am happy they have done it, though, because this is what we wanted. Everyone said half an hour wasn't long enough."
Mr Farmer said a city-wide review of the parking system would still be undertaken.
"This is a fundamental change and we need to wait until we have stable data on parking usage before we make ... decisions.
Parking will be free in all zones on public holidays and Sundays.
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