WESTFIELD has modified a key component of the paid parking system being introduced at the Miranda centre.
Initially, the company told the Leader customers would be allowed "one three-hour free parking session per day" when fees were introduced on November 3.
After questions were put to Westfield about the impact this would have on parents dropping off and picking up children, and other residents who visited the centre more than once a day, the company "clarified" the situation.
Centre manager Kate Holsgrove said customers would be able to make "multiple" visits during the day, and would not be charged until total parking time exceeded three hours.
"Additionally, parking will be free for all customers who enter after 6pm, and if you are visiting the centre to watch a movie you will also receive an extra hour free with your cinema receipt being validated," she said.
Ms Holsgrove said one free parking visit a day was a "fairly standard" condition at other Westfield centres, even though it was not easily monitored with a ticket system.
While the same rule may also initially have been been intended for Miranda, the licence plate recognition system made the situation "a little different".
"I think we certainly spent a lot of time as we progressed looking at how it will impact our shoppers," she said.
"We did look at feedback from shoppers, who may do their shopping in the morning and return for a meal or movie, and how best to accommodate them."
Ms Holsgrove said that during implementation there would be staff at boom gates to assist.
Customers would also be able to speak through an intercom to a customer service officer, and it was expected most matters would be resolved by credit card payment.
Ms Holsgrove said shoppers who registered their licence plates would receive a free SMS alert to tell them their free time was nearly up.
Ms Holsgrove said on completion the centre would be "absolutely the premier destination" in the area.
"Controlled parking will make it more pleasant because it will be easier for people to find parking," she said.
A Leader online poll in early September asking if shoppers were happy with the new pay parking scheme had 76.29 per cent of voters saying 'no' and 23.71 per cent saying 'yes'.
Does this make the paid parking system more palatable?
