July 3rd 2024.
A healthcare worker in Melbourne was taken aback when she discovered that the cost of metered street parking near her workplace had suddenly doubled. The unexpected 100% increase in parking meter fees, specifically for all-day parking outside of the central business district, was just one of many changes implemented by the City of Melbourne on July 1st. This move is expected to generate an additional $5 million in revenue for the council this fiscal year.
The medical scientist, who preferred to remain anonymous, shared her frustration with 9news.com.au, revealing that she now has to shell out an extra $50 each week for street parking in Parkville, the inner-city suburb where she works. "I used to pay $1 per hour for all-day parking, but today I was forced to pay $2 per hour," she lamented. "Doubling the price is completely unreasonable and frankly, absurd. It feels like robbery," she added.
The decision to increase metered street parking rates was made during a City of Melbourne council meeting last month and was included in the budget for 2024-2025. Aside from the all-day parking fees, the changes also introduced peak and off-peak rates, as well as paid parking on Sundays. Fortunately, the on-street parking fees in the CBD will remain the same at $7 per hour during peak times and $4 per hour during off-peak times and weekends. These changes are expected to boost the council's revenue from parking fees by 10.9%.
According to the budget, the City of Melbourne's parking fees revenue will rise to $54 million in 2024-2025, a significant increase from the $48.7 million earned in the previous fiscal year. The healthcare worker revealed that she does not have a permanent parking spot at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and that the casual spots are not only costly but also fill up quickly, often by 8:30 am. Moreover, the area where she usually parks is also utilized by Melbourne University faculty and students, as well as employees from other nearby hospitals.
"It's currently school holidays, but once these students return from their university breaks, they'll be hit with having to pay double for parking," she expressed her concern. In response to the rise in street parking fees, a spokesperson from the City of Melbourne stated that this is the first time the all-day parking hourly rate has been increased in six years. "Our city has welcomed over 17,000 new residents in the past year alone, and the demand for parking is continuously growing," the spokesperson explained. "We are committed to making parking more straightforward, fairer, and more reliable, so that residents can easily access services and support local businesses within our neighborhoods."
The spokesperson also clarified that while the parking fees within the CBD have remained unchanged for seven consecutive years, the all-day paid parking hourly rate outside the central business district has been raised from $1 to $2, marking the first change to this fee in six years. In an email response to the healthcare worker's complaint, which was seen by 9news.com.au, the council assured her that the additional revenue generated will be reinvested into improving city infrastructure and services.
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