Gone will be the last remnants of free parking - including the P30s in the Octagon - replaced by a growing army of 400 silver parking machines.
A 10-month review of city parking has produced a new "strategy" which divides up the centre of the city into four zones - each with a different hourly charge.
Effectively, the closer to the city that motorists want to park, the more they will have to pay.
Presenting the changes yesterday, planning and environment committee chairman Michael Guest said the strategy came at the end of a process which included various forms of public consultation.
The review came about because resident opinion surveys showed 46% of respondents were concerned about not being able to get parks in the city to go shopping.
Mr Guest said motorists parking for eight hours were "clogging" parking areas.
"So, we've decided to regulate that with more parking meters . . . it will improve the flow and the availability of parks in the general inner city area."
Another feature of the new strategy is the provision of more 5-minute "loading vehicle" zones, available for motorists free of charge.
Asked to justify charges that could cost motorists as much as $16, for the maximum four-hour stay, Mr Guest said he did not think motorists should be able to "hog" a park for eight hours during the day.
"It would be nice to do so, but no city allows for that. No city allows for a commuter to come in, park their car outside their shop or their business or their office and not pay for it."
Mr Guest said he was surprised at the small amount of public feedback on the plans as they progressed through the planning stages.
"So, I hope people aren't now going to wake up tomorrow or the next day and say `What have you guys been doing?"'
Transportation planning manager Don Hill said part of the strategy was to encourage more people to walk in the city or use buses or bicycles.
Those using cars were being encouraged to use under-utilised, off-street parking buildings where fees were cheaper than on the street but set to rise from $1.60 to $2.
Council staff at yesterday's presentation were unable to say how much extra revenue the new strategies might generate.
Mr Guest said the strategy was not designed to be a money-making exercise and it was policy that the council did not profit from parking revenue.
Mr Hill said there would be a small reduction in the number of parks, with some done away with to allow bus stops to be lengthened.
Bus passengers may find their usual stop in George St has been moved further away from an intersection or, in the case of some under-utilised stops, done away with.
Drivers aged over 75 will continue to get free parking, except in George St or in parking buildings.
The 125 new $8500 machines being installed to replace old-style meters will accept credit cards and phone payments, as well as coins.
One extra parking officer will be employed, bringing the total to 10.
