The number of parking fines issued across Wyndham has skyrocketed over the past quarter … and business owners and residents are not happy.
A council report reveals 4237 infringement notices were issued from July to September this year, with motorists forking out a total of $445,982.
The total from this three-month period is almost half the number of infringements issued for the entire 2014-15 period, when council handed out 11,561 fines.
The report identifies Werribee CBD as a parking fine hotspot, with 1203 fines issued in this area alone. Wyndham has three dedicated parking officers, with two focusing on strip shopping centres and carparks, and the third responsible for complaints made by residents.
Council’s chief executive Kelly Grigsby said fine numbers fluctuate throughout the year, and other factors, such as holidays or more visitors coming into the area, could explain the higher results.
She said infringements were down on the previous quarter, when 1596 fines were issued in the CBD.
“Drivers are expected to know the road rules and observe parking restrictions,” she said. “Residents are strongly encouraged to look at parking signs and note the restrictions.”
But Watton Street retailers expressed frustration with parking in Werribee CBD, claiming it is driving away business.
Frances Leone, owner of Francine Shoe Boutique, described the parking situation as “disgusting”.
“There are just not enough carparks in the area,” she said. “The situation is getting quite bad. It’s stopping people from coming in.”
Il Piccolo Caffe owner Trish Schweizer echoed her sentiment.
“They need to increase the time limit on car parks,” she said. “People are always getting fined, so why would they come down Watton Street?”
Werribee South resident Marco Mason is also angry.
“Parking at the plaza is free – they need to invest in parking in central Werribee.”
The report also identifies the area around the hospital precinct and Hoppers Lane as hotspots, with 423 fines issued there over the past three months. It found road works in the area do not affect the availability of parking.
In the Leakes Road area near Laverton Markets, fine numbers dropped from the usual monthly average of 130 to only 49 in the September quarter.
Council’s parking strategy, which is expected to look at the possibility of a multi-storey car park in Werribee’s CBD, was due in July, but was delayed.
Council did not respond to queries about when the strategy will be delivered.
