General News
21 March, 2025
Parking meter survey
The newly elected 2024 Horsham Rural City Council members moved quickly after being elected in November to shut off the parking meters and introduce temporary free parking in Horsham CBD.
The newly elected 2024 Horsham Rural City Council members moved quickly after being elected in November to shut off the parking meters and introduce temporary free parking in Horsham CBD.
"We listened to the community," mayor Ian Ross said.
But now it's time for the community to have their say again.
Should parking remain free or should it be reinstated? Should the parking meters be removed?
The council wants to know your thoughts, and you have until 5pm on April 14, 2025, to do so.
Felicity Clark from Mackays Jewellers in Firebrace Street said free parking should stay, but the meters should be removed because if it is made permanent, they will be ineffective.
"Since free parking was introduced, there has been a noticeable increase in street movement," she said.
"The meters caused so much stress for people who had difficulty using them, mostly the elderly, and that stress has been removed now."
Ms Clarke said the two-hour limit should stay.
Visiting Cobdobla couple said they enjoyed the freedom to sit and enjoy a coffee and wander through the shopping area without the issue of parking meters and zones.
"What was wrong with the coin-operated single meters," Trevor Balshaw said.
"It's alright to have a two-hour limit. But the new system just made it too difficult and wasted your time while trying to figure them out."
Mr Balshaw is formerly from Rainbow and said the meters should be removed if the free parking remained.
Meat Market owner Dominic van Dyk said while he hasn't noticed a big change in customer numbers, he has noticed people are no longer complaining about the difficulty they were having using the meters and their confusion over the zones.
"Keep the two-hour limit," he said.
"And if they are not being used, take them out."
The parking meters were temporarily suspended in December 2024.
The council seeks input on whether they should be permanently removed or reinstated.
"The survey, which has a version for business operators as well as shoppers, aims to gather valuable information on the impact of the temporary suspension," a council spokesperson said.
"Residents, visitors, and local businesses are encouraged to share their thoughts on how this change has affected convenience, accessibility, and overall parking behaviour within the area."
The survey will explore how the decision has influenced daily routines and local commerce and any potential issues, such as congestion or limited parking availability.
The council is keen to hear from all community members, as their responses will guide the decision-making process in the future.
The survey is open to everyone who has experienced parking in the area. All opinions will be considered as part of the Review of CBD Parking Meters Operations.
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Two separate surveys are available: one for business owners and one for community members.
The council urges the community to provide feedback by completing the relevant survey.
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