There was controversy when this council initiative began in March.

Some were concerned about how the change would affect vehicle movements in the central business district.

Others wondered aloud whether it was simply a revenue-raising move, an easy way for council to milk money from absent-minded, lazy or risk-taking drivers in the CBD.

Whatever your feelings, though, it’s hard to argue against the rationale for the introduction of the parking patrol: to free up car parking spaces in the busier shopping precincts of the city.

A parking space in the centre of the city is a funny thing.

Everyone wants one when they come into the CBD to do some business or visit the shops. But no-one is happy to cop a fine when they overstay their welcome in one of those precious few spaces.

Unfortunately, you can’t have both. It’s the fines – or the risk of them – that keep the spaces available.

CBD businesses looking to increase traffic turnover outside their shops have had to accept that their employees can no longer park outside the business all day long.

This might not be any good for the employees – except for those who need a reason to go for a brisk walk in the morning – but it is good for the business that employs them.

Having run successfully during the week, the parking patrols will now extend to Saturday – and the only surprise about the move is that it has taken this long. 

Bathurst’s CBD ceased to be a Monday-to-Friday economy a long time ago. And Bathurst shoppers expect to be able to get the product they want at the time they want with as little walking as possible – even if that is on Saturday morning.

It’s one of the many changes Bathurstians can expect in their rapidly growing city.

Sometimes the price of progress is a parking fine or two.