The strategy aims to increase the availability of different types of parking to meet the needs of drivers across the region and a further shift towards parking industry best practice.

It includes a mix of free and paid parking as well as different periods of timed parking, parking for people with a disability and long vehicle parking.

The strategy has been created with the aim of increasing the availability of the types of parking to meet the needs of drivers across the region and a further shift towards parking industry best practice. Actions include:

• More parking spaces in Barraba and Manilla for people with a disability and long-vehicle parking;
• Introduction of meter parking in Tamworth’s Peel Street between White and Bourke Street to encourage shorter stay parking which leads to an increased turnover of parking spaces and;
• Installation of ticketless parking meters with card or app payments only because they are less prone to being out of order.

Council staff are working on implementing the strategy's actions. The first will come in a few months while meter parking in Tamworth’s Peel Street will be later in 2025.

One change in the near future is additional lighting in the Tamworth Town Hall Carpark. A motion Councillors adopted at the 25 February meeting supported the move to improve safety for all who park in the CBD at night.

Updates about the strategy implementation will be shared as more details are known.

Tamworth Region Mayor Russell Webb said the strategy's underlying principles are based on industry best practice.

"The majority of Councilors agreed it will deliver real parking improvements as the initiatives are activated - more all-day free parking in the CBD is a big win," he said. "But it may be that changes are made as we work through the strategy to achieve even better results."

You can read more about the Tamworth Regional Parking Strategy online - trcnews.au/parking-strategy