Monash University students see red over parking permit wait list

STUDENTS at one of Melbourne’s biggest universities are racking up fines of up to $1000 as they struggle to get parking permits for the overcrowded campus.

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MONASH University students are racking up fines of up to $1000 as they struggle to get parking permits for the overcrowded Clayton campus carpark.

Students are forking out $400 for an annual permit but they are all sold out before the year has even begun and hundreds are on a waiting list.

Monash Student Association president Abigail Stapleton said there was a simple solution to the parking woes — build more underground carparks.

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“Parking has been an issue for quite a while at Monash, especially the last two years,” Ms Stapleton said.

She said it was not uncommon for students to rack up hundred of dollars worth of fines while waiting to be issued a permit. She copped $1000 in fines last year.

A change from uncapped parking permits in 2014 to a waiting list had students seeing red.

Student Tara Impala says she is number 459 in line for a yearly permit.

Alumni without a permit can park at a shopping centre 15 minutes away and catch a free shuttle bus, or pay $10 a day at nearby carparks.

Jeremy Kilgour, a second year Bachelor of Radiography and Medical Imaging student, said students didn’t have “any other reasonable option” but to pay the $400 permit.

“Monash is reducing its access to reliable and affordable transport options for students, adding difficulty to daily university (life),” Mr Kilgour said.

Monash facilities and services division acting executive director Bradley Williamson emailed students last year, telling them 1000 new permits would be made available for the start of semester one, but the new carpark isn’t expected to be open until the middle of the year.

Monash University has been contacted for comment.