Wollongong's parking meter scheme has become a public relations fiasco with two business leaders who were dropped from a review panel on Wednesday, welcomed back within 24 hours.
It came as the city council announced it had raised $500,000 from the meters in the four months since their introduction.
On July 6 the council announced a review of its original $2 flat fee to consider a pro rata system. Two weeks later, it announced a cut in fees while the review was being exhibited and a panel discussed options.
EDITORIAL: Fairer solution needed
At the panel's first meeting last Friday, Phil Ryan and Andrew Reveley, representing Wollongong businesses, asked for a three-month moratorium on parking meter charges while the effect on businesses was assessed.
The request was declined, the council saying its objectives of deterring all-day parking by city workers and increasing turnover to make more parking spaces available was already being achieved.
On Wednesday, all five community members of the panel, including Wollongong City Centre general manager Paul Fanning, Illawarra Business Chamber president Greg Fisher and South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris, were told via email their membership was no longer required.
"While we respect your position, there is no benefit in further meeting with you," the council's manager of property and recreation Peter Coyte wrote.
Yesterday morning, the council said the email was sent to Mr Fanning, Mr Fisher and Mr Rorris in error, and calls were hastily made, informing them they were still welcome on the committee.
The status quo remained for Mr Ryan and Mr Reveley, however by last night the council said it had "reconsidered our approach", and contacted the two men, inviting them back.
Both sent an email declining the offer.
"No wonder they can't administer parking meters, they can't even administer an email," Mr Ryan said.
He admitted that without the council's agreement to a moratorium, he wasn't prepared to move forward.
"I've got to be honest, there probably wasn't a lot of future in me being on the committee," he said.
Mr Reveley said the mix-up "further shows the disarray that this council is working in".
The two plan to gauge the impact on the business community through a survey on Wednesday.
Both Messrs Rorris and Fisher accepted the council had made an error and said they were keen to continue on the committee.
Mr Fanning could not be contacted.
The council said the $500,000 raised so far had been set aside in a reserve to be spent on improvements to transport and parking in the city centre.
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