Every parking meter across Brisbane will be turned off and fees at Council’s two major car parks slashed to $5-a-day to help essential workers during the State Government’s latest COVID-19 lockdown.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said essential workers continued to perform important roles on behalf of Brisbane residents during this lockdown and slashing parking fees would make it easier for them to travel to work.
“We don’t know how long this current lockdown will go on for given the number of cases involving the Delta variant which are occurring in the community,” Cr Schrinner said.
“So we’re switching off our metered parking spaces, which number around 8000, and cutting the cost of parking at King George Square and Wickham Terrace car parks to $5-a-day, seven-days-a-week until further notice.
“This measure will mean doctors, nurses and many other essential workers who still need to commute to work can park in any one of our spaces for little or no cost, providing some real hip pocket relief as well as peace of mind.”
Cr Schrinner said the initiative will save commuters $30-a-day by parking at King George Square and Wickham Terrace, with the maximum daily fee usually $35.
The measure adds to the millions of dollars worth of fee relief and waivers, as well as grants to community groups, undertaken by the Schrinner Council since the coronavirus pandemic began in March last year.
Last year, more than 7000 businesses across 186 suburbs had their food licence and footpath dining fees waived as part of the Schrinner Council’s Economic Recovery Taskforce’s Business Relief Package.
“This measure saved our cafes, restaurants and other food businesses more than $6.5 million when they were at an unprecedented crisis point, when their doors were locked but the bills continued to roll in,” Cr Schrinner said.
“I’ve also received numerous personal thank you letters from the community groups who benefited from our decision to provide them with fee waivers and grants.
“In our latest budget, we also cut footpath dining fees in half to provide ongoing relief to cafes and restaurants with tables and chairs outside and encourage more of them to take up this options to help boost their business.”
More than $950 million had also been pumped into 4000 South East Queensland businesses over the past financial year under the Schrinner Council’s highly successful Buy Local procurement policy.
Cr Schrinner welcomed the State Government’s decision today to join Council and the Federal Government in providing direct assistance to businesses being hurt by the latest lockdown.
“Our Council and the Federal Government have been doing the heavy lifting when it comes to helping businesses stay afloat during this pandemic,” Cr Schrinner said.
“So I am really pleased the State Government has finally made a start at providing its share of assistance during this latest lockdown.
“Our balanced budget provides record infrastructure spending in Brisbane over the next three years and I encourage the State Government to join us in stimulating the economy by investing in much-needed new projects.”
For more information about what’s happening in Brisbane, visit www.adrianschrinner.com.au/brisbane-news.
