Parking fees and charges have increased by 10 cents per hour to a maximum additional charge of 50 cents per day in locations across Toowoomba's CBD.
The changes came into effect Monday, 5 July and apply to both on and off-street parking across the city, except for Central Carpark which will remain at $1 per hour.
In addition to this, fees for old, single head parking meters will remain at the current price of $1.80 per hour.
Parking fees and charges for old single head meter parking bays will not increase until new pay and display parking machines are installed at these locations and programmed with the new fees and charges as part of Council's progressive roll out of new parking technology across Toowoomba's CBD.
Infrastructure Services Portfolio Leader Councillor Melissa Taylor said Council is progressively rolling out new parking technology as part of its commitment to continuing to meet the current and future needs of motorists.
"This financial year, in line with the Toowoomba City Centre Parking Strategy, Council will invest $1.2 million to continue development of new smart parking technology across the Toowoomba CBD parking precinct, enabling Council to better manage parking needs and support all users," Cr Taylor said.
"We'll also keep progressing the renewal of assets, investing in replacing single head parking meters and the replacement and upgrade of existing carparking machines to support payment by credit card."
Cr Taylor said the parking fee increase would be the first in three years.
"Increases to Council's Fees and Charges assist Council with the costs of operating and maintaining our carparks along with progressively upgrading parking meters to facilitate payment by credit card and future smart parking initiatives," Cr Taylor said.
"Motorists are reminded that free one-hour parking is still available on Ruthven and Margaret Streets in Toowoomba's CBD (in Margaret Street between Neil and Victoria Streets and Ruthven Street between Herries Street and Chalk Drive). Residents also can take advantage of numbers of free 10-minute parking bays in both Ruthven and Margaret Streets.
"Residents who need more than an hour for CBD appointments are reminded that Central Carpark, which can be accessed via Neil and Annand streets, offers an hourly rate of $1 up to a maximum of $3 for three hours, providing easy access to Margaret Street, through Carnival Lane, and Ruthven Street via Kwong Sang Walk.
"Weekly parking tickets are available at all of Council's off-street carparks excluding the Toowoomba Bus Station Carpark, with discounted weekly parking available at the Herries and Water Streets Car Park and Station Street Carpark. Discounted long term parking is also available at the Toowoomba Bus Station Carpark."
