General News
15 December, 2025
Council takes a look at parking in Clifton
A review of the Toowoomba Region Parking Strategy has included an analysis of the parking situation in Clifton, including recommendations on how to improve it.
A draft of the Toowoomba Region Parking Strategy was presented to councillors at last week’s Infrastructure Committee meeting and proved to be contentious amongst councillors when it came to Toowoomba City.
Mike Brady, General Manager Infrastructure Services Group wrote that the strategy has been developed by an experienced and specialised consultant in collaboration with Council Officers to ensure Council’s strategic vision for the region has been thoroughly considered throughout the project.
“The Strategy has been developed using a first principles approach in line with best practice parking management to develop a system which achieves the best overall outcome for the community as a whole,” Mr Brady said.
Stakeholders were engaged throughout the development of the strategy, including the Department of Transport and Main Roads, the general public through two surveys, Clifton & District Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc., and Clifton & District Progress Association Inc.
Clifton & District Chamber of Commerce & Industry was unable to attend a meeting in Phase 1 but would later attend a meeting in Phase 2.
Councillors narrowly voted to approve the Toowoomba Region Parking Strategy - Draft October 2025 for immediate finalisation and adoption and commence prompt implementation of the five year action plan.
Six councillors, Bill Cahill, Gary Gardner, Trevor Manteufel, Tim McMahon, Carol Taylor and Melissa Taylor voted for it and five councillors, Edwina Farquhar, Mayor Geoff McDonald, James O’Shea, Kerry Shine and Deputy Mayor Rebecca Vonhoff voted against it.
Most of the discussion and debate between Councillors pertained to parking within the Toowoomba City CBD and the approach to paid parking, including duration restrictions, changing to from a pay-by-bay to a pay-by-plate system, implementing demand-based pricing and addressing technology changes.
“It will be the most controversial thing we will have to deliver on,” CEO Sal Petroccitto said of the parking strategy at one point.
Precinct-based planning was also debated, as the report addressed the Toowoomba CBD as well as health precincts (near hospitals, educations (near schools) and sporting/events precincts.
The part of the action plan pertaining to Clifton is ‘Improve parking environments in regional centres’.
Beside Clifton, other regional centres investigated were Crows Nest, Oakey, Millmerran, Yarraman, Goombungee and Pittsworth.
A total of 32 responses were received from the Regional Townships Survey.
It mentions:
Improving pedestrian connectivity and safety, particularly with respect to road crossings between parking locations and destinations
Formalising and improving parking areas
Designating and improving long vehicle and RV parking
Enhancing parking signage and wayfinding
Improving parking for persons with disabilities
All actions are subject to budget availability.
CLIFTON
Parking demand
Highest demand for parking is on King Street west of the train station
Parking supply
Parking supply is generally adequate to meet demand
Commercial parking is adequate through back entrances to most businesses
Observed and reported issues
Not all locations have safe, accessible crossings to walk to/from destinations
Rail corridor creates barrier between east and west with limited crossing points. No pedestrian crossings provided on King St or Clark St to rail corridor crossing
Only one parking space for people with disabilities provided on King Street
Opportunities
Provide safe, accessible pedestrian crossings at intersections to encourage walking including at Edward St and East St
Upgrade railway crossing including crossings on King St and Clark St to improve connectivity and accessibility
Provide additional accessible parking at key locations e.g. Post Office (King St, South of Edward St)
Consider provision of RV/Long vehicle parking at suitable and available locations e.g. Edward Street or King Street (before Meara Place)
Explore provision of wayfinding signage directing to formal RV parking and consider enforcement and restricting informal RV parking on residential streets
Investigate opportunities for mobility device (e.g. gofers and mobility scooters) parking at key locations
