Rural City chief executive Brendan McGrath outlined the parameters of the review at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

It comes amid tension in the city over the ongoing cost of the multi-storey Co-Store parking lot and a plan to reduce vehicle bays near Moloney’s Arcade as part of a green space redevelopment.

In answering a resident’s queries, Mr McGrath said a comprehensive study of parking would be done.

“We have a project in this financial year to do a holistic review of parking, which will look at the issue of paid versus free parking,” Mr McGrath said.

“It will look at whether there’s appropriate amounts of various time limits of parking and whether they’re in the right locations.

“That’s a piece of work that we’ll do over the next few months and it will come back through the normal council meeting cycle.”

Under a 20-year deal, the city pays a six-figure annual licence fee to the multi-deck lot’s owner with costs rising by 3 per cent yearly.

Mayor Ken Clarke said the contract was “not a waste of money if people use the car park”.

“You can now park all day in that multi-deck car park for $5, it’s a maximum charge now of $5,” Cr Clarke said.

In addressing concerns about Moloney’s Arcade, Cr Clarke said the development at this stage was limited to “concept drawings”.

A petition co-ordinated by the North East Natural Health Centre, which faces the arcade, was presented to the council meeting.

It contained 209 signatures from citizens and 28 from traders who opposed the green space move.

Mr McGrath said 24 car parks that may be lost could be covered via freeing up Big W designated council parks.