By Jessica Grimble 

Local laws officers in Horsham have been subjected to verbal abuse and threats – over parking meters. 

Horsham Rural City Council and Horsham police have joined forces to call on people visiting the regional city’s centre to show respect after local laws officers were subjected to a wave of unsavoury behaviour. 

It comes since the council introduced a new parking meter system across the city centre in March. 

About 60 machines replaced previous technology, including 361 ageing meters – some dating back several decades – which had reached the end of their serviceable life.

Local laws co-ordinator Jason Brady said people believed the new meters were difficult to use, or that parking in the city centre should be available at no charge. 

“There’s been conjecture and misunderstanding, and abuse directed towards staff members – and it’s not acceptable. They’re only doing what they are paid to do,” Mr Brady said. 

“People have been getting into our personal space, or making threats. 

“It’s been fairly abhorrent.” 

Parking in Horsham costs $1.50 an hour. 

People can pay for parking using coins, a credit or debit card, or via the Blinkay mobile phone app. 

People who pay via the app will have a portion of their fee refunded if their stay is shorter than anticipated. 

The city centre has two carparking zones, designed to create movement of parked vehicles in line with timed zones and prevent people from monopolising parking. Those who park without paying for sufficient time could face a fine of $72. 

“We’ve had meters here for 60 years and I’d also like to bring up the fact that the cost of parking has gone up 50 cents an hour in 10 years,” Mr Brady said.

He said council staff worked for months to communicate and support people to learn about the meters across a range of mediums, including face-to-face interactions. 

“I think a lot of people are just not interested in learning and think if they keep the noise up, the meters will be removed – but that is not going to happen,” he said.  

“They’re here to stay and they are a long-term investment.” 

Mr Brady said the council would conduct a six-month review of the new parking meter system soon. “If people want to have some positive input into how we can improve, or make things better, they need to do it via a submission – not by abusing staff,” he said. 

Horsham police Acting Inspector Matt Haughton said police were patrolling the city centre to ensure everyone – including local laws officers – were safe. 

“The vast majority of people do the right thing and respect that people who work for the council are there to do a job,” he said. 

“It is disappointing to hear that there is a minority who behave this way towards them. 

“We will maintain contact with the council over this issue and address matters appropriately if they arise.”

The council’s chief executive Sunil Bhalla said local laws officers had an important job and recent public behaviour was disappointing. 

“A recent post on a Facebook site regarding car parking resulted in one of our staff member’s children contacting them to ask if they were safe in their workplace. No parent should have to answer this question,” Mr Bhalla said. 

“The team will always look to help members of the public, whether it be assisting with parking meters, helping re-unite owners with lost pets or making sure children get to school safely. Officers work hard to enhance the amenity and safety in the municipality and deserve to be treated with respect.” 

The council scrapped parking meter fees during the pandemic-interrupted 2020. A new parking plan, adopted in 2021, extended one-hour parking to two hours, while some four-hour zones on the fringe of the city also became two-hour bays. 

Parking restrictions now end at 5pm, instead of 5.30pm. 

Mr Bhalla said after taking out operational costs, the council expected to generate $90,000 in net revenue from parking fees in the 2023-24 financial year. Funds from parking revenue are transferred to a CBD Reserve, which is used for the development of the city centre and surrounds, for example, maintaining infrastructure, cleaning, gardening and landscaping. 

Meanwhile, a community petition is gathering signatures and calling to retain timed parking but remove, or permanently discontinue, parking meters in Horsham. 

The petition will be provided to the council at a later date. 

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