The first-hour-free parking scheme for central-city shoppers will continue and be extended to a fourth Council car-parking building, but the draft Annual Plan proposes increases in some other parking charges to offset the cost of the free service.

The parking buildings which will offer the free service are the Lichfield Street, Crossing, Farmers and Manchester Street buildings.

The parking-related fees set to rise if the draft is adopted by the Council in July include:

• A $2 an hour charge for all 60-minute parking meters (up from $1.60 an hour). It should be noted that 60-minute meters make up less than half the city’s parking metres
• Apart from the Hospital park, increasing the early bird all-day rate at all Council parks by 50 cents.
• Stopping free Sunday parking at the Lichfield Street and Crossing parks.

The Council decided its staff should also talk to the central city business community about the possibility of it putting up some money to offset the cost of the free service. The alternative is adding 20 cents to the hourly casual parking charge in Council owned buildings.

The changes, if adopted, will be reviewed after six months to make sure that the first-hour-free scheme stays inside its budget.