Parking fine revenue slashed as Bayside council counts cost of COVID-19 but inspectors still busy
With coronavirus restrictions cutting traffic, parking inspectors dished out almost 2000 fewer fines last month than in April last year. But the officers have taken on new duties pulling up a different kind of lawbreaker.
Inner South
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Bayside council has taken a substantial financial hit with revenue from parking fines dropping a staggering amount during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Council parking officers handed out almost 2000 fewer fines in April compared with April 2019. But inspectors were still on the streets ensuring pedestrians rather than motorists adhered to Stage 3 restrictions.
Acting director city planning and amenity Matthew Cripps said the officers had taken on a number of new responsibilities during the pandemic.
“Our parking officers are supporting the community during the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring safe parking, informing the community on social distancing requirements and responding to community service requests,” he said.
The decrease in parking infringements has delivered a significant hit to Bayside council coffers, with almost $150,000 in lost revenue.
In April last year, the council issued 3768 parking fines – worth $342,561 – while in April this year officers issued 1645 fines worth $192,660 in revenue.
The council said parking inspectors are targeting offences related to public safety, such as cars blocking driveways, or cars parked too close to roundabouts.
“We encourage the community to treat our parking officers with respect and understanding as they work to maintain parking restriction compliance across Bayside,” Mr Cripps said.
It comes as the council projects a loss of $6 million in overall revenue for the 2020/21 financial year on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic.
They say they don’t yet know where that loss will be felt.
Director corporate services Jill Colson said capital works and projects in activity centres around the municipality have been made a priority during lockdown to take advantage of less traffic.
“We are continuing to assess the financial implications the COVID-19 pandemic will have on all areas of Council including capital works,” she said.
“Essential services such as aged care, waste collection, cleaning and asset maintenance continue to operate as normal, but with enhanced procedures around cleanliness and social distancing.
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“Our staff are working in new and evolving ways, with many staff being redeployed from different parts of the organisation to support the areas with increased demands to their services.”
Council is yet to make a decision on a rates freeze for the 2020/21 financial year.