As part of the ongoing review of the Lords Place south upgrade Orange City Council is seeking feedback from businesses on parking times.
Parking counts carried out by Orange City Council has found that with the reintroduction of paidparking in the Ophir Car Park and other changes, parking has freed up in the Ophir Carpark, in surrounding streets and in the Lords Place section where the Future City Project has been delivered.
Parking vacancy rates across the area range from 10 to 60 per cent.
Lords Place.
Orange City Council's Director of Technical Services Ian Greenham said the return to paid parking in the Ophir Car Park has created more opportunities to park in the precinct and allows for more flexibility on Lords Place between Summer and Kite streets.
"We already have verbal feedback that 15-minute spaces suit some businesses but it is not ideal for others. The same can be said for 30-minute spaces," Mr Greenham said.
"We're aiming to get the balance right between steady turnover, and providing the length of parking stays that drivers and shoppers need. A close assessment has shown that there are consistently vacant parking spaces in that block which aren't being used, and businesses are telling us longer stay parking in Lords Place could be what's needed," Mr Greenham said.
Mr Greenham said business feedback together with parking counts would be assessed and reported to an upcoming meeting of Council.
"We have a range of parking vacancy rates in the precinct that support some tweaking. Parking is a complex issue and when we change a limit in one site it can impact on parking in other areas. We will continue to monitor the project," he said.
