The Fraser St/West Walk car park will be included in the Shepparton CBD Off-Street Parking Scheme, after Council voted to make the car park free, timed off-street parking at the August Council Meeting.
In April 2020, Council resolved to provide free timed off street car parking in the Shepparton CBD, to be implemented in the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time, the adopted scheme did not include the Fraser St/West Walk car park.
Council officers began work on this initiative in late-April, with a number of matters needed to be considered as part of the implementation including: what time limits to apply, when the time limit should start, communication, coordination of installation/replacement of signage and removal of ticket machines.
The scheme was implemented in July, with the car park not included in the scheme, which resulted in feedback from the community that it should be included.
Council also acknowledges errors it made on its webpage and signage, which contributed to confusion and community feedback over whether the Fraser St/West Walk car park was included, and amended the errors as soon as they became apparent.
Council took the feedback on board, which led to the decision at the August Council Meeting for the car park to now be considered a free timed off street car park.
The changes will be effective immediately, signage has now been updated and parking meters removed.
"We hope this resolution clears up any confusion, and further encourages people back to the CBD, once it is safe to do so, to help our businesses that have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic," Mayor Cr Seema Abdullah said.
"The Shepparton CBD Off-Street Parking Scheme has been pieced together with input from key business and community groups and CBD visitors. We have taken points from all these areas and we believe we have a solution – that now includes the Fraser St car park - that will help our CBD."
