Councillor Bill Kelly raised the idea at the September Ordinary Meeting of council.

"I would seriously put it that council needs to look at parking restrictions throughout the Christmas shopping period for the benefit of those retailers in the CBD," Cr Kelly said.

"It doesn't take you long to take up your hour. Ten minutes here, 15 minutes there, and before you know it your hour's gone and you've got a nasty little envelope on your windscreen. What an uninviting experience that is with Christmas shopping."

Figures published by the NSW Office of State Revenue show 1269 parking notices were issued in 2014-2015 in Dubbo with a face value of $150,309.

That was down on the total of $205,944 from 1776 notices in the previous year.

Two years earlier in 2013-2014 there were 2559 fines issued with a face value of $282,811.

Cr Kelly said the CBD already had to compete with the unrestricted car park at Orana Mall.

"I think the city council should look at removing the car-park restrictions right through December for Christmas shopping. I did put it out there in previous years but probably too late, too close to Christmas."

Dubbo mayor Mathew Dickerson said it was something he would get the general manager to consider to determine if the proposal was viable.

Cr Kelly's comments came after deputy mayor Ben Shields made a plea for the community to shop local this holiday season.

"I challenge anyone out there preparing their Christmas shop to walk down Macquarie Street or even have a look at Talbragar Street. Not only are these businesses employing our locals they are often locally owned and further contributing to our economy," Cr Shields said.

He said in this day and age it was very easy to go online and buy products from all over the world, but council should be doing everything possible to encourage local business.