Fine state of affairs: Melb, Ballarat, Geelong, Mornington, Dandenong streets where parkers are pinged

We reveal the Melbourne and Victorian regional city streets where drivers cop the most parking fines — and what they’re getting pinged for. We’ve also compared parking costs around the state.

If you plan on parking in the Melbourne, Ballarat, Geelong or Dandenong CBD, consider yourself warned that there’s a good chance you’ll cop a fine if you outstay the time limit in a few key locations.

And if you think you’re safer staying a little longer than strictly allowed in coastal towns or at popular beach locations, also think again.

Melbourne’s fine streets

Collins St is top of Melbourne’s parking fine list Picture: David Caird

Collins, Lonsdale, Queen, Russell and Little Collins streets — all in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD — have the highest rates of parking infringements in the City of Melbourne.

The council stresses, however, that because they are all long streets, they can’t be directly compared to the number of fines handed out on shorter streets.

Anecdotal reports also indicate parking inspectors are very active around the Botanic Gardens “tan”, where many Melburnians regularly jog or walk.

The tan track is Melbourne’s most popular running track, looping around Kings Domain and the Royal Botanical Gardens, southeast of Melbourne’s CBD.

The City of Melbourne is quick to spruik its free 15-minute parking, introduced in July 2023, saying more than 90,000 Melburnians had so far taken advantage of the free sessions via the EasyPark app.

“Drivers can book a session in any of the 1,800 metered, two-hour spaces in the CBD and be charged $0 for stays up to 15 minutes,” it said.

But the City of Melbourne failed to provide a figure for the total amount of money it raised from parking fines in 2023, as asked for by the Herald Sun.

Geelong’s thousands of fines

There’s a bit of bad parking in Geelong, but also thousands overstaying their time limits.

In burgeoning Geelong, parkers are also being pinged, with a whopping 8,649 fines given last year for overstaying time limits.

The next most common infringement in 2023 was drivers failing to pay at the meters, with 8,175 fines handed out.

More than 3500 fines were given for parking in a no standing zone, while nearly 1,500 people were fined for stopping in a loading zone, 1,258 for parking in a permit zone (without the valid permit) and 484 for parking in a disabled zone.

The Geelong council did not provide the streets and precincts where the offending was worst, or provide a total for the amount of revenue it raised over the year through parking fines.

Ballarat hands out nearly $1.7m in fines in 2023

Even regional Ballarat handed out $1,674,638 in parking fines in 2023. Picture: Sarah Matray

The City of Ballarat did provide comprehensive information on its parking fines revenue — revealing $1,674,638 worth were issued in 2023, including those that were later exempt or withdrawn.

“This money is returned to the City of Ballarat’s consolidated revenue budget,” it said.

The council’s acting director of development and growth, Joanna Cuscaden, said Ballarat’s Sturt St was the scene of the most parking tickets last year, with 2,131 fines.

Mair St was next with 1,962, closely followed by Armstrong St North with 1,912, Lydiard St south with 1,275 and Lydiard St north with 1,116.

Dandy retail precinct fines sting shoppers

In Dandenong most infringements occur near shops. Picture: Valeriu Campan

In suburban Dandenong, “precincts where there is bustling retail activity and strong public attractions, such as our shopping malls, plazas, flea and street markets and restaurants”, saw spikes in parking fines last year, chief executive of the Greater Dandenong City Council Jacqui Weatherill said.

“We know nobody likes to receive a parking fine. We urge anyone parking in our council area to observe restrictions and avoid a fine,” she said.

Mornington Shire fines can make beach day costly

Ocean Beach Rd in Sorrento was the scene of many fines. Picture: Google Street View

But it’s not just while shopping or working that Victorians can, and do, get hit with hefty parking fines.

Even a day at the beach — where it’s easy to lose track of time — can be costly if you outstay your parking spot welcome.

A spokesperson for the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council said the fine for overstaying a timed parking spot was $96.

The top five streets for parking fines in its municipality were

> Main St Mornington — an area with a mix of 30 minute and one hour sensor parking spots — with 2,807 fines.

> Ocean Beach Rd Sorrento — a mix of one and two hour spots — with 1,139.

> Mornington Central two hour spots — 592.

> The Sorrento Ferry ticketed parking area — 428

> The Pillars at Mount Martha – 417

In addition, 83 $115 fines were handed out last year across the shire for not having a parking permit and 334 $192 fines for not stopping.

Originally published as Fine state of affairs: Melb, Ballarat, Geelong, Mornington, Dandenong streets where parkers are pinged