It bursts into flames of passion instantly.

It is not that there isn’t much parking in Dubbo ... there is. But, it can be difficult to get a park close to business and shopping destinations. That angers people visiting the Central Business District for appointments and shopping.

The Dubbo Chamber of Commerce, reacting to complaints from some business owners and customers, this week urged CBD businesses and their staff to stop taking up spaces in timed parking zones in front of or near their premises, often all day.

It is a common practice with workers taking out many parking spots for hours on end or even the whole working day. Then there are the frenzied repeat exits from shops and offices as workers move vehicles to another spot to avoid fines from Dubbo Regional Council’s parking inspector.

None of this makes sense when customers and productivity should be the priority. There is always the risk of loss of trade, particularly to other Dubbo retail centres where parking is easier.

The Chamber says there is ample parking. But, there the wheels come off. Workers want to park right next to work. The short walk from free, all-day parking areas is too much of an inconvenience.

The parking issue could worsen.

The DRC is “reluctant” to take a big stick approach, but could be forced to have more parking inspectors, which inevitably means more $100-plus parking fines. Pressure could mount on the DRC to introduce parking patrol cars, which photograph number plates in time limited zones and send your fine on its way instantly. 

Or time limits in Macquarie and Talbragar streets could be shortened.

A worst-case scenario would be the introduction of parking meters. (Please, no. Not in Dubbo!)

Softer options suggested on social media were: increase all-day parking options, better publicise existing ones, educate city workers on where they should park, or build a multi-level CBD car park.

Mayor Ben Shields said one answer was to “encourage people to do the right thing”.

It is that simple. If everyone treated each other with respect and followed the existing rules the problem would vanish. And motorists wouldn’t have to face the prospect of punitive measures.