Council employees will be given priority on the boom gate levels of the multi-storey car park, jumping ahead of hundreds of inner city workers on lengthy waiting lists for a space in one of the council's six other car parks.

Last September, the Mercury revealed there were 610 people on the council's car park waiting lists, while all 633 spaces in the car parks were already leased.

Council general manager David Farmer noted that waiting lists were long because council car parks were cheaper than private paid car parks in the city.

A council spokeswoman said there were 170 all-day paid spaces in the multi-storey car park and the 20 non-council employees were being given first preference in the George St car park.

"Employees are charged the same and the same terms and conditions apply as for other members of the community using council's leased car parks," the spokeswoman said.

The change will free up some on-street parking now used by council employees.

A letter sent to drivers with long-term spaces in the council car park advised that the decision was made in May 2009.

But a city office worker with a space in the car park said there had never been any mention of the additional planned car parks or that motorists would be forced out when those car parks were built. The first advice was a letter sent on March 15 - only one week before the official start of metered parking in the city.