The new Byron Bay town centre pay parking scheme will be rolled out in two stages from today (December 23).
But in an ironic twist, the third-party website contracted to sell resident parking exemptions is currently offline for maintenance.
The first stage will include pay parking at on-street one-hour (1P) and two-hour (2P) locations at $3 per hour. The machines will only accept coins at this stage.
A Byron Shire Council spokesperson said that during this first stage, Council’s existing pay carparks will remain as they currently operate; that is with a four-hour (4P) time limit, charged at $4 per hour and meters accepting both coin and card.
The second stage will be in the new year with four hour (4P) and all-day parking sites incorporated into the new $3 per hour pay parking scheme.
The 4P areas and all day sites will be capped at $10 and $20 per day respectively.
The second stage will also see the Council-managed carparks become available for all-day parking.
‘Plus in the new year, all metered sites (1P, 2P, 4P and all day) will accept payment in coins and credit card,’ the spokesperson said.
‘During both stages, the pay parking exemptions will be in effect for Byron Shire residents and ratepayers ($50 per year), workers employed at a fixed address in the pay parking area ($100 per year) but live outside of Byron Shire, and businesses and volunteers organisation within the pay parking area ($100 per vehicle per year).
‘Byron Shire pensioners can also get an exemption for no cost.
‘Everyone who has purchased an exemption will be able to enter their number plate at the pay parking machines and pay no more. Time limits will still apply for on-street car parking and within the carparks.’
Exemptions can be purchased online at http://byronpermits.ticketor.co.nz/.
Unfortunately, when Echonetdaily visited the website we were met with a one-line message which simply said it was ‘offline for maintenance’. A Byron Shire Council spokesperson said the website had been taken offline while data was uploaded to the new machines. It was expected to be back online later in the day.
Meanwhile council’s traffic and transport officer Simon Bennet said the exemptions were proving very popular with residents. ‘We’ve had over 3,000, or two-thirds, of the resident parking coupon holders who’ve chosen to upgrade to the new exemption,’ Mr Bennet said.
more corruption and milking of every bit of wealth or happiness they can squeeze and extort from the people by Byron council…. some things never change
A disastrous start to paid parking today, my friend and I both parked next to each other and both entered our local registered car number registration into the new street side machines and went for breakfast at a local cafe only to return and find both cars had parking fines under the wiper!! now online trying to get a review from state debt recovery office!!!
I ll never ever again visit byron. Also all my friends refuse to accept oaid parking, i want to enjoy a place without worrying about returning to my car. Sunshine coast is also lovely, brunswick head wonderful. Keep your new byrontology, byron spirit is dead.
Disgusting! We already pay rates and money for a local parking ticket. We live in Byron to goby obtuse beach! We shouldn’t have to pay more! I dint believe that only the rich should experience the beauty of Byron bay. It makes me sad. If the council is going to impose these charge they should offer an alternative: bus of rail at no extra charge.