Wollongong City Council general manager David Farmer regrets the introduction of a $2 flat parking fee in the CBD, but insists the meters are here to stay.
In an exclusive interview with the Mercury before fronting a heated crowd at a packed public meeting last night, he revealed a review of the meters planned for September would be brought forward in a bid to stem a public outcry.
Retailers and the business community will be invited to work closely with the council during the review process, which is expected to start next week.
"(The $2 flat fee) was done for simplicity - it was simple and it had its flaws .. it probably was not fair.
"I do (regret it) but we have to move on," he said.
Mr Farmer said while parking meters would not be removed, all elements of the parking regime would be on the negotiating table.
The council has already invited feedback on a proposal to move from the $2 flat fee to a pro-rata rate.
Mr Farmer conceded consultation on the meters failed to address key issues on how they would operate.
"I don't think we or the retailers knew what the effect would be in individual areas until it actually came in," Mr Farmer said.
"The debate was not about the rate, the flat fee or should we keep the existing times ... in hindsight it's something we could have handled it better."
But he insisted some CBD businesses supported the parking meter strategy and had reported an increase in unique customer visits.
He also cited figures which showed weekly parking meter use had increased from 12,000 to 15,000 since their introduction in March.
And extensions to time limits on CBD fringe parking, which came into effect this month, had led to a 50 per cent jump in use.
"If we can get the parking meters right, they can be a positive, but it's a matter of getting it right," he said.
More than 150 business leaders and residents jammed into City Diggers last night to air their views on the controversial strategy.
Illawarra Business Chamber president Greg Fisher said retailers had reported a severe reduction in productivity and profits.
South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said the measures negatively affected CBD working conditions and safety.
"People are finishing the late shift in the dark, especially females, and they have to walk on their own a considerable distance at night (to reach their cars)."
Wollongong MP Noreen Hay said meters should be scrapped to stop the drift of customers to the suburbs.
Marketing expert Malcolm Barnes spoke of Newcastle's negative experience from parking meters.
"There are a huge number of empty and derelict buildings, 35 per cent of premises are closed, and the streets are flooded with Fix Our City signs," Mr Barnes said.
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