And our very own version of the Gold Coast Meter Maids will hit the streets of the Wollongong CBD next week, as one city club fights back against the introduction of parking meters.

With the "pay and display" system set to start operating from Monday, young female staff from the City Diggers Club will be out in force feeding the meters and helping patrons understand how they work.

Delicate local sensibilities - and milder weather conditions - mean the maids will eschew gold lycra bikinis for more demure uniforms.

But the aim is the same, says City Diggers general manager Phil Ryan - to reverse the dampening effect of parking meters on retail trade.

"We're trying to provide help to people parking around the club, to make sure they're aware of how they operate, and we're happy to bear the cost of that," he said. "If it saves one person from being booked, it's probably money well spent."

While a Mercury street poll yesterday revealed widespread support for the notion of bikini-clad maids, demonstrated here by Miss World Illawarra runner-up TJ Viney, Mr Ryan said he "didn't want to turn (the scheme) into a sideshow".

Rather, the meter maids would try to dispel confusion over the new parking system.

"How they operate and the three different zones, the flat rate - I don't think council spent enough time explaining that," Mr Ryan said.

"Customers think it's a dreadful idea, they're worried about getting booked.

"It's just another barrier to stop people coming into town."

The Gold Coast Meter Maids were introduced in the 1960s by a businessman who feared new parking meters would drive customers away.

While it continually raises the ire of feminists, the scheme has become a major tourist drawcard.

Mr Ryan said the Wollongong meter maids would consist of a few "lovely young ladies" helping customers next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the busy lunch period.

From Monday, daytime motorists must pay a flat $2 fee to park in half-hour, one-hour and two-hour parking spots.

A Wollongong City Council spokeswoman said the meters were designed to increase parking turnover in the city centre and encourage more people to do business there.

An education workshop will be held in the Crown St Mall today from 11am-2pm.