Glen Eira Council could offer residents incentives to ditch car for public transport

Glen Eira Council is so pushed for space on its roads it’s floating a raft of changes to ease congestion, including offering incentives for people to switch from cars to public transport. But there’s already been opposition to the proposal.

Glen Eira Council is looking at offering residents a Myki card if they give up a parking permit.

Glen Eira residents will be offered $100 Myki cards to forgo parking permits under a push to ease traffic snarls in the municipality’s booming suburbs.

In a letter to residents, seen by the Leader, the council’s city futures manager, Aidan Mullen, said proposed changes to parking permits aimed to “keep Glen Eira moving” as the population grew.

Proposed changes include capping resident parking permits at two per household in most areas and issuing a maximum of 100 single-use visitor permits to homes each year.

Under the plan, released this month, residents would get 50 free single-use visitor permits, pay a “small fee” for another 50, and need to buy a second permit for occupants.

Myki cards would also be offered to households eligible for parking permits who chose to go without “to encourage uptake of public transport options”.

The proposal states complaints about parking were “increasing in number and intensity”, prompting the review.

“Parking conflicts are increasingly occurring in residential streets as demand for commuter and non-resident longer term parking around activity centres reduces the availability of space for shoppers, residents and their visitors,” the proposal states.

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Glen Eira is expected to be home to more than 32,000 new residents by 2031, resulting in an estimated 22,432 extra cars on local roads. It has the least amount of open space of any municipality in Victoria.

According to the draft policy, “the impact of 22,432 more cars on local streets means more congestion, less safety, especially for children, and the erosion of the quiet amenity that typifies Glen Eira’s neighbourhood streets”.

Mayor Jamie Hyams said the draft strategy would “start a conversation about how (the) council manages parking spaces more to ensure we’re making the best use of our limited public space”.

Other proposed changes include more carparks allocated to seniors and people with prams around shopping hubs.

But an Elsternwick man, who did not wish to be named, has railed at the plan saying it “discriminates” by forcing him to shell out extra cash for permits while non-residents “will be given additional access”.

“The proposed changes will actually have no positive effect on traffic flow and parking … but rather just be another impost by the council on the residents/ratepayers,” he said.

In a letter to the council, seen by the Leader, the resident of 40 years wrote: “Our rates increased by 15 per cent this year and now you want us to pay extra for parking”.

“Ratepaying residents … who fund the council through annual rates should continue to receive priority with two free permits and one visitor permit that covers the whole year,” he wrote.

Neighbouring Port Phillip Council offers residents up to three permits a year for $83 each, while Bayside Council hands out up to four free permits to eligible residents annually.

Stonnington residents could be eligible for two free parking permits a year, while people living in the Yarra Council area are eligible for up to three permits a year, at a cost of $40 for the first one, $98 for the second and $184 for the third.

Residents have until November 4 to have their say on the proposed changes to Glen Eira’s parking policy.

To make a submission, visit the council’s website.

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