Frankston TAFE, foreshore, hospital areas hardest hit by parking fines

TAFE students, beachgoers, hospital patients and their carers are among the hardest hit by parking officers in Frankston.

Pictured is parking in and around TAFE Chisholm Institute at Frankston. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

TAFE students, beachgoers, hospital patients and their carers are among the hardest hit by parking officers in Frankston.

The Frankston Leader can reveal the Chisholm Institute precinct, Hastings Rd near Frankston Hospital and all foreshore carparks are hot spots for parking fines.

Irate students said parking at Chisholm, which is sandwiched between Frankston train station and the new Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre, was a nightmare.

Nursing students Rachel Smith, Tanya Wallace and Miranda Goetz said parking was regularly full by 7.30am and surrounding streets clogged with cars.

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A TAFE teacher, who did not want to be named, said he had received eight parking fines in two years.

“Once you are over the clock (time limit) you will run out and the fine will be there,” he said.

Community services student Robin Wemyss said the aquatic centre had led to the loss of parking for students and created more chaos.

“You sit in class and think ‘Oh my God, am I going to go out and get a fine’?”

Student Robin Wemyss. Picture: Derrick den Hollander.

She said students were forced to park in two-hour zones and regularly had to dash out of classes.

“There has never been enough parking and the aquatic centre has added to the problem.”

Chisholm Institute chief operating officer Grant Radford said plans for additional parking at Frankston had hinged on the development of the campus.

“With recently announced funding support for the Frankston campus redevelopment, plans are being developed which will incorporate additional car parks,” Mr Radford said.

Frankston Council has budgeted to rake in $920,000 from parking fines in 2014-15. The figure is below the $1,177,863 revenue from fines in 2013-14.

It hit $861,989 in 2009-10 before dropping to $785,334 in 2010-11 then steadily climbing to $880,130 in 2011-12 and $993,740 in 2012-13.

Council chief executive Dennis Hovenden said the majority of infringements were for illegal parking and overstaying time limits.