A proposal to investigate introducing paid parking in the CBD in a bid to reduce traffic congestion and raise money to meet future infrastructure needs has been met with fierce opposition from leading business identities.

Griffith Chamber of Commerce vice-president and local retailer Peter Bonaventura said there was little doubt parking meters would see shoppers migrate from the CBD to shopping centres offering free parking.

"I think it could be disastrous for the main street shopping precinct," Mr Bonaventura said.

"If you have to pay to shop in the main street why wouldn't you go to one of the plazas where you can park your car for nothing?

"With the economy the way it is at the moment the last thing we want to do is potentially drive people away from the main street."

Peter Dalla from Ron Dalla said council needed to decide whether its priority was having a thriving main street shopping precinct or smooth traffic flow.

"In a Yes Minister episode one of the people says 'This hospital's totally, 100 per cent efficient', and it is because it's got no patients," Mr Dalla said.

"The same thing applies here, if there was no retail in the main street the traffic flow would be completely unimpeded."

Councillor and chairman of the transport and logistics committee Doug Curran stressed the idea was just one option to be considered as part of a wider review of the main street.

"This is an idea in its infancy and if it's not the right idea then that's fine," Cr Curran said.

"I've heard all the comments that it will kill the main street and that's not what we want to do.

"But we do need to look at how we raise funds (to fund improvements to Banna Avenue)."