6 December 2024 | Media Release
Toowoomba Chamber welcomes CBD parking review
In March 2024, the Toowoomba Chamber created the Local Government Election Priorities document to advocate for small business at the local government elections.
The work drew on our research from the Toowoomba Business Sentiment Index, Tax Advocacy Advice, Annual Surveys, CBD Economic Profile, and the like and our engagement with our members and other interest groups.
Chief Executive Officer, Todd Rohl said, “CBD car parking was a critical matter raised by our members at the local government elections.
“It continues to be a significant concern of businesses, impacting on their ability to thrive, increasing their costs, and as reported by The Chronicle resulting in local businesses going to extraordinary efforts to support their customer base.
“The Toowoomba Chamber continues to advocate for CBD parking changes including:
- implementing 3 hours’ free parking in the Bell Street Car Park (Bus Terminal) and Annand
Street Car Park to bring consistency in parking offerings across the CBD; - providing an annual parking permit option for business & building owners, including
trade services to assist with planned and urgent works being conducted in the CBD
during business hours; - extending the one-hour parking arrangements to two hours in the CBD; and
- undertaking a complete signage audit and update for parking signage.
“We welcomed the early engagement with Toowoomba Regional Officers and their consultant on 26 November 2024, to discuss the identified Toowoomba Chamber CBD parking solutions, as part of a review of the city’s car parking strategy.
“Invaluable input was provided by our local businesses, Gelatissimo, Bone Idol Brewery, Hogans Family Jewellers and Ray White covering areas of: - the importance of undertaking parking arrangements comparisons with other inland regional cities;
- technological improvements and simplifying parking arrangements;
- new parking infrastructure needs; and
- changes to the TRC Bus Terminal Car Park to align with free CBD street parking from 5pm weekdays and from 1130am Saturday noting that Sunday and Public holidays are currently free parking.
“I encourage everyone to make a submission on the Toowoomba Region Parking Strategy before Friday 13 December 2024”, expressed Todd.
