Members of the Canberra Croquet Club fear their heritage-listed patch of manicured grass adjacent to the Hyatt Hotel in Yarralumla may become a victim of pay parking in the parliamentary triangle.
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Elizabeth Mountain, the president of the 86-year-old club, said pay parking was introduced at the club's car park on October 1, although several of the designated three-hour spaces had since been taken by public servants and hotel guests.
"We had been waiting for the school holiday period to finish as it hadn't been too bad during that time, but it's really become a problem," she said.
"I went down there on Tuesday and there wasn't a single spot available for our members, and it was raining, too."
Ms Mountain said the sudden popularity of the car park meant her members either had to pay for parking nearby or abandon their croquet plans.
"This will kill the club," she said. "This club is 86 years old and cannot be allowed to die.
"For me, pay parking takes the cost of playing from about $250 a year to close to $1000 and all the people who play during the week are retirees or on pensions."
Ms Mountain said she understood the car park, which is shared with the Hyatt Hotel and has about 40 spaces, was public and could not be reserved but she remained frustrated at the lack of alternatives for her members.
Despite Ms Mountain's frustration, an Office of Regulatory Services spokeswoman said inspectors had noted a greater availability of spaces around the Hyatt Hotel since the introduction of pay parking.
"Parking Operations review the three-hour timed parking near the croquet club each day and have found spaces available at each visit," she said.
Ms Mountain said she had discussed the option of free-parking vouchers for active club members with Planning Minister Mick Gentleman but the idea was abandoned as it would "set a precedent for others in the area".
Mr Gentleman said a more "equitable arrangement supporting the sporting requirements of [the] club and the members of the Clubhouse Fitness Centre at the Hyatt Hotel was the most appropriate way forward".
"The members of both sporting facilities now have access to a number of three-hour, free parking bays," he said.
Mr Gentleman said parking would be monitored to discourage inappropriate use by commuters while the croquet club explored other options.
But Ms Mountain said her discussions with the government had left her frustrated and feeling it was not doing enough to help the club.
"We have reached the point now where the government is saying we need to look after this little club and, on the other hand, we have a situation leading to the death of the club," she said.
The Hyatt Hotel declined comment.
