BOAT fishos on the NSW north coast have been angered by a council proposal to introduce pay parking at boat ramps and other coastal locations within the Tweed Shire.
At a meeting in late January, Tweed Shire Council asked councillors to consider allocating money to a pilot program of paid parking at Fingal Head Boat Ramp and Ambrose Brown Park at Pottsville – at a rate of $5 an hour for cars with a trailer, and $2 an hour for cars.
A council report has looked into the feasibility of a pay parking scheme across 17 car parks from Tweed Heads to Pottsville and inland to Tumbulgum, where it says the income generated can be used to provide improved facilities. Over 1000 parking spaces that could be used for extra revenue raising have been identified among them Kennedy Drive Boat Ramp, Duranbah Beach, Cabarita Beach Norries Headland, Chinderah Boar Ramp, Tweed Heads Old Fire Station Bay St, Hastings Point Cudgera Creek.
“The introduction of a pay parking scheme provides the opportunity to utilise existing land and assets to generate a new income stream and supplement the limited maintenance funds, without significant extra burden on the rate base by targeting tourist users,” the report stated.
Fishing World contacted the Tweed Shire Council this week and was told by a council spokesperson that the pay parking proposal was passed (not unanimously) at the January council meeting. From the meeting report on the parking proposal it was resolved that:
1. An allocation of $30,000 to commence a parking demand study as a pre-requisite to the introduction of a pay parking scheme be included in the March 2013 Quarterly Budget review; and
2 The introduction of a pay parking scheme targeting high usage parking areas in Tweed Shire be considered in the 2013-2014 budget, to provide upfront funding for implementation at two pilot sites, with establishment costs estimated at $85,000, and first year running costs of $10,500.
FOR VOTE – Cr P Youngblutt, Cr W Polglase, Cr C Byrne, Cr M Armstrong
AGAINST VOTE – Cr K Milne, Cr G Bagnall, Cr B Longland
More details of the proposal as set out at the Council meeting agenda can be found HERE (scroll down to page 163). Article from Tweed Shire Council’s newspaper the Tweed Link HERE.
Fishos wishing to voice their disapproval can contact the Tweed Shire Council on Ph: (02) 6670 2400 or 1300 292 872; Fax: (02) 6670 2429 Email: tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au
Website: www.tweed.nsw.gov.au
