The owner of an underused multi-storey car park in the Maitland CBD still believes that parking is a real issue in the city and has called on Maitland City Council for action.
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Chakyl Camal, CEO of Panthera Group which operates the Maitland Riverside Plaza, said council "has to build more car parking in Maitland".
"There is a big issue in the Maitland CBD," he said.
"The new Levee is suffering due to Rutherford and Green Hills, which both have adequate parking.
"The CBD has to fight to make itself relevant.
"You can't invent convenience - you've got to provide it."
Panthera owns the two-storey car park near the old Supercheap Auto on Ken Tubman Drive, which is mostly vacant on the rooftop a majority of the time.
But Mr Camal said the rooftop was exposed and hot.
Movie Heaven owner John Lee, who has been a vocal advocate for more parking in Maitland, said the feedback he received was that the car park was also isolated and some women had safety fears using the space, particularly when it gets dark earlier in winter.
This was backed up by Mercury reader Fiona Cunningham, who said on Facebook: "personally, I'd be concerned about my safety by parking on the top level of the car park next to Kmart. I did it once years ago and was followed by a dodgy looking person. That was probably a rare thing, but I want to feel safe when I am out on my own."
Mr Camal also said a lot of the lower level parks were taken by city workers, who parked there all day, and while there's nothing to stop people from doing that, the car park is meant to be for shoppers.
"We've received a lot of complaints," he said.
"Forty per cent of the car spaces are being used by employees."
Mr Camal said he had approached council about increasing his two-storey car park to three or four levels - which would provide more undercover parking - but not heard anything back.
"We've been proactive about it," he said.
"If it's going to be an asset that's going to benefit the public, council has to participate."
When asked about this, and whether or not there were plans to introduce more CBD parking, a Maitland Council spokesperson said: "council has received a copy of the draft report of the Central Maitland Parking Study. It is currently under review".