Free parking in on-street CBD parking to be scrapped under City of Greater Geelong draft budget

A significant change to previously free CBD parking is expected from July. Here’s why.

Free CBD parking is on the way out. Picture: Mark Wilson

A free hour of CBD parking introduced to encourage people to stay longer is likely to be scrapped under a City of Greater Geelong plan.

The initiative, which cost council about $2m a year, allowed motorists to park in two-hour on-street spaces but only pay for the first hour.

Other parking costs outlined in the city’s draft budget include a slight increase to a full day’s parking at Haymarket ($14.75).

An hour of on-street parking is expected to cost $3.45 in 2023-24 but on-street parking at weekends in the CBD will remain free.

Annual unreserved parking permits at council’s Haymarket, Busport and Little Ryrie St car parks will rise by $165 next financial year to $2940.

Parking fines will not be increased and will cost between $94 and $188.

The move stop the free-parking initiative is one of a suite of measures council is taking to balance its budget in 2023-24 as it also looks to find another $4.5m of savings next financial year.

Before the free parking initiative was introduced council found the average person spent 58 minutes parked in the CBD.

City of Greater Geelong councillor Eddy Kontelj said he supported the free-parking initiative for six years.

“I am struggling with some of the fees and charges particularly around on street parking. However... what we want to do is get the budget ... back to a surplus,” Mr Kontelj said.

“Since I’ve been a councillor since 2010 there is no doubt that would be the most difficult budget that we’ve (drafted).”

The average residential rates bill in the City of Greater Geelong will rise by 3.5 per cent to $1480 in 2023-24 in line with state government guidelines.

Eddy Kontelj

Anthony Aitken. Picture: Supplied

Deputy mayor Anthony Aitken said the “free and subsidised car parking initiative” would be stopped if the draft budget was adopted.

“This budget (was) developed (during) a period of time where we are experiencing economic and financial volatility not experienced since the 1991-92 recession,” Mr Aitken said.

“We are dealing with inflation... of seven per cent, unprecedented cost escalation in our capital program and rate capping which is restricting council’s capacity to raise revenue to match the escalating costs we are facing.”

Some council fees, for the more than 200 services it provides, are not expected to rise in 2023-24.

All fee increases are opened for public comment until May 24 and will need to be approved by councillors via the final 2023-24 City of Greater Geelong budget, expected to be voted on in June.

Meanwhile the cost for council to collect residential waste, paid as part of council rates, is due to rise $27 to $457.25 in 2023-24.

The cost of a permit for building work worth between $10,000 and 25,000 for owner-occupiers will rise by $79 in 2023-24 to $2323. While the same fee for registered builders will be set at $1859, an increase of $390 or more than 25 per cent.

Registered builders seeking approval for work worth between $25,000 and $50,000 will be asked to pay $2196, up $360 from the previous this financial year.

Owner occupiers who reclad, reroof or restump their homes at a cost of under $10,000 will be asked to pay $1742 for a permit in 2023-24, a $59 increase from the year prior.

The cost to hire The Carousel for a private function of up to eights hours will rise by $578 in 2023-24 to $2500 but the prices of rides at the venue will mostly stay the same.

Residential swimming pool owners will have to pay council $650 to apply to install a compliant pool fence.

The cost for council to return a dog or cat from the pound to its owner will rise by $11.50 to $46 next financial year. The cost of pet registration, $46 for a dog and $53 for a cat, will largely stay the same.

Business owners wanting to use shipping containers in public spaces for customers will have to pay council $46 a month under a new fee introduced for 2023-24, according to budget documents.

Originally published as Free parking in on-street CBD parking to be scrapped under City of Greater Geelong draft budget