Goulburn Mulwaree Council has stood by its decision not to opt into a State Government offer to reduce parking fines for people overstaying the time limit.
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As The Goulburn Post previously reported, the council in December decided not to cut fines from $112 to $88, or 25 per cent. In November, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet wrote to every council in NSW offering this option, after announcing changes to 10 of the most common parking fines in the State budget.
Goulburn Mulwaree councillors in December voted unanimously to keep the status quo, without discussion.
General manager Warwick Bennett said the council previously agreed with the business community that greater policing was needed in the city’s CBD. It has since employed a full-time parking ranger.
“It’s important we keep the flow turning over so we could see no benefit in reducing fines,” he said.
He reported that the council had budgeted to collect $55,000 in parking fines this financial year. Up until November 30, rangers had collected $30,600, with the largest amount ($9644) in September. This compared to $3100 collected in July. The State takes $17.80 out of each fine.
Mr Bennett said the council did not make a profit from proceeds, just enough to cover salaries for this sector.
“Four to five years ago (parking) revenue was around $100,000 annually but a number of staff issues have caused a lull in that figure,” he said.
He told The Post the full-time ranger position was valuable in that other CBD issues, such as overflowing garbage bins and parking usage could be reported back. The person also deals with multiple queries from locals and visitors.
Mr Bennett said while some other councils throughout the state, particularly coastal ones, reaped significant income from parking fines and could afford to reduce them, Goulburn Mulwaree did not enjoy this “luxury.”
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