Chris Kizi pays Wollongong City Council for a parking spot in a car park in the CBD.
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But he’s not sure if it’s value for money.
The businessman, who runs Wollongong Nut and Deli on Kembla Street, has a spot in the council car park in George Street – just a short walk from the shop’s front door.
"Here I am paying $87 a month and anyone can drive in and park in my spot."
While he pays $87 a month for a space, he’s concerned council isn’t doing enough to stop people driving in and parking for free.
“You’ve got a card and you drive up to the gate, flash the card on some sensor and the gate opens,” Mr Kizi explains.
“Everyone’s allocated a spot and I’ve had the same spot for three or four years, since it opened.
“Every afternoon the gate goes up and it stays up.”
Which is Mr Kizi’s concern – he says council isn’t doing enough to stop people from driving in and parking in his spot.
A spot he pays for each month.
“If I went out and parked on any street from 3pm to 4.30pm I’d get booked,” he says.
“But here I am paying $87 a month and anyone can drive in and park in my spot.”
A spokesman for Wollongong City Council says the monthly $87 fee did not actually ensure Mr Kizi’s space was always empty.
“Under the licence agreements for these car parks, Council does not guarantee that the nominated parking bay will be available for use by the licensee at all times and that the licensee shall make no claim and have no recourse against Council if their allocated parking bay is in use by another motorist,” the spokesman says.
He says the boomgate at the George St car park was set to go up and stay up at 5pm.
The boomgate then closes each morning between 6am and 8am.
The spokesman confirmed there were times when drivers who have no parking permit entered the car park.
“There are occasions when a motorist enters the car park without an access card, for example, they have tailgated another vehicle into the car park or have entered the car park when the boom gate is raised,” he says.
As part of the parking arrangements, people who pay the monthly fee are given a permit that must be displayed on their vehicle.
Cars parked without a permit are liable for a fine for failing to comply with the conditions of entry into the car park.