Local businesses around shopping precincts in the Hawkesbury are increasingly angry over ongoing parking issues impacting their operations and bottom lines. Owners are repeatedly fined for parking near their own businesses, forcing them to frequently move their vehicles throughout the business day. 

After years of upheaval due to COVID-19 and flooding, small businesses in the Hawkesbury – the backbone of the local economy – have been doing it tough. Foot traffic is down, and the cost of living crisis is keeping customers away. However, businesses say that rather than looking for ways to assist them during these times, rules and regulations imposed by Hawkesbury Council are making it harder.