Barely-used parking meter on Princes Highway, Dandenong, pulls in $452 a year
IT’S barely used once a day and will take ratepayers more than 20 years to pay off its $8000 installation cost. But that’s not the most ridiculous thing about this Dandenong parking meter.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
IS this Melbourne’s most useless parking meter?
It was installed on the Princes Highway, Dandenong almost three years ago but no-one seems to be feeding it.
Documents seen by Greater Dandenong Leader show it could take more than 20 years to recover the $8203 installation cost of the meter which pulls in just $452 a year.
The excuses Melburnians give to get out of a parking ticket
The meter, used by less than one person a day last financial year, was installed in front of Coles supermarket — which offers up to three hours free parking in its carpark.
Another meter was erected next to the KFC carpark which offers an hour free parking. It is also yet to recover costs and has only raised $5329 in two-and-a-half years.
Parking costs $1.80 an hour, for a maximum one or two hours depending on the meter.
But Greater Dandenong Council’s engineering services director Julie Reid said parking meters weren’t there to raise revenue but as a tool to manage parking demand.
“Data identified these parking areas were in high demand, often making it difficult for customers and visitors to find a space,” she said.
Traders celebrate a win after parking meters ditched at busy Springvale shopping precinct
In February 2015, six meters began operating on the highway between Clow and Robinson streets, where clients and staff of local businesses and services usually parked.
But last financial year only an average of 74 meter transactions were record a day.
The figures were obtained under Freedom of Information laws by Victorian Upper House member Gordon Rich-Phillips, whose office is on the street.
He said the area had become a “virtual ghost town” since the meters were installed and urged the council to replace them with all day parking bays.
“The introduction of two hour paid parking has been a miserable failure and a cynical revenue raising exercise,” Mr Rich-Phillips said.
“Revelations it will take 20 years for council to break even on the cost of installing a parking meter demonstrates terrible judgment and reckless use of ratepayer funds.”
Some traders said people avoiding paying for parking was affecting business and there were reports a grocery store had gone out of business.
Local businessman Zab Sarwar said it used to be difficult to park on the road “but since meters were installed there seems to be a lot of spaces.”
Greater Dandenong Council said consultation with residents and traders would begin on November 20 about a proposal to change to four-hour ticket parking. Changes will only occur if there is majority support.
