Wyndham council parking inspectors slapped drivers with more than 15,000 fines valued at more than $1.5 million in 2015 – almost double the number from the year before.
Figures obtained by Star Weekly show the council raked in $1.55 million from 15,104 parking fines last year, up from 8360 fines totalling $807,000 in 2014.
Werribee CBD, streets surrounding train stations and schools, land surrounding Werribee Mercy Hospital and Point Cook Town Centre were the parking fine hotspots in 2015.
The number of parking fines has grown every year for the past five years with 6351 in 2011, 6449 in 2012 and 7330 fines in 2013.
To add to drivers’ parking woes, a year-long moratorium on any new business parking permits in Werribee’s CBD will remain in effect until the council releases its parking strategy for the area.
“You can’t park anywhere without feeling stressed if you’re five minutes late.”
Watton Street traders have accused the council of taking advantage of the lack of parking in Werribee’s CBD to raise revenue.
Tony Sesto, from Sesto ShoeX, said the parking time limits – from one to four hours – were not long enough for customers.
He said parking had been a problem since he set up shop 38 years ago and he was keen to see a multi-storey car park on Synnot Street.
“An hour is not enough,” he said. “There have been so many studies and meetings over the years, but nothing has eventuated.”
Trish Schweizer, from Il Piccolo Cafe, said: “You can’t park anywhere without feeling stressed if you’re five minutes late.”
Stephen Meyer, from Salon Vogue, said hairdressers in the salon had been fined up to 13 times for exceeding time limits.
He said it wasn’t right for Watton Street employees to clog up nearby residential streets because there wasn’t adequate parking close by.
And he said that with daylight saving now over, it was a safety issue to have employees walking alone to their cars in the dark.
“We’re paying $70 fines; we’re prepared to pay for permits,” he said.
Wyndham council corporate services director Steve Lambert said the council employed three parking inspectors.
“Parking regulation is required to deter motorists from parking in areas which may be unsafe, or to generate turnover of vehicles in key locations,” he said.
“The increase in infringements … relates largely to choices some motorists are making to park where they shouldn’t or for longer than the allocated time.”
