Parking in Melbourne: visitor parking requirements to be lifted in new apartment buildings

THE State Government has just relaxed a major parking requirement for apartment developers, sparking fears of worsening traffic snarls and clogged streets in our busiest suburbs. If you’re a rail or road commuter, here’s what it means for you.

VISITOR parking will be scrapped on all new developments built near public transport, sparking fears of increased traffic congestion and clogged streets.

Under new State Government reforms approved this week, any residential development in Melbourne within 400 metres of a major transport route — including bus stops, tram lines and train stations — won’t be required to provide any visitor parking.

Maps listing affected areas show the high density areas of Yarra, Melbourne, Boroondara, Stonnington, Glen Eira and Port Phillip will be most affected by the change.

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It was previously up to individual councils to decide which developments could waive the requirement of 0.2 visitor parks per dwelling.

A State Government map of Glen Eira showing the green areas where visitor parking requirements will be waived in new developments.

The new blanket law is part of a planning scheme amendment gazetted on Tuesday.

Save Our Suburbs president Ian Wood said the deregulatory change would only lead to more cars clogging up residential streets.

He said it was “insane” that bus stops were also included as major transport hubs.

“It’s just not feasible for people to change their lifestyles enough to not use their cars, even if (the) government provided much better public transport,” he said.

“(Visitor parking) is especially important for retirement homes and older people.”

Mr Wood said many of the sweeping reforms were designed to make things easier for developers, and would lead to a lot of “bandaid solutions”.

“It’s going to be a disaster because there’s always problems when you make changes and the more things you change, the more difficult it is to fix,” Mr Wood said.

“It’s clear they’ve done it with enough time before the election to say they’ve done something, but not enough time for the problems to show up.”

Opposition planning spokesman David Davis said the “arrogant government” was riding roughshod over local communities.

“Pushing up and up the number of units to build ugly dense boxes without parking is all about Labor maximising yield to cover its massive cost overruns and mismanagement,” Mr Davis said.

“While some variation of parking requirements should legitimately be permitted, given proximity to public transport, this must involve proper engagement with councils and communities, something (Daniel) Andrews has repeatedly refused to undertake.”

All other developments outside of the zone are required to provide one visitor space per five dwellings.

Planning minister Richard Wynne has been contacted for comment.

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