Anger at parking cost spike ahead of free rollout

Angry drivers slam Geelong’s doubled $14 parking fees just weeks before free two-hour parking starts.

Parking fees have doubled in some parts of Geelong’s CBD, despite the city’s plans to soon introduce free two-hour parking in prime shopping areas.

Drivers were surprised to find parking prices in some four-hour parking spots had risen from $7.22 to $14.34 on July 1.

One driver said on social media that they were “outraged by the parking increase for the new financial year” and said there was “no signage indicating increase”.

The City of Greater Geelong confirmed a $0.10 increase to the hourly parking rate in addition to a $2.80 increase to the all-day parking capped price.

In three-hour and four-hour spaces, the capped price has been removed and replaced by an hourly rate of $3.70.

Paid parking in additional areas across Geelong has also been introduced.

Council’s executive director of city life Anthony Basford said increases had been minimised where possible.

“Council reviews parking fees every year as part of the budget process to make sure they are competitive with private operators and to respond to market conditions,” Mr Basford said.

The surprise price hike comes as council plans to introduce its long-awaited free two-hour parking initiative on July 14.

Mavs owners Julia Ryabova and Milton Mavromoustatos are delighted with the first two hours free parking initiative from Geelong council. Picture: Alan Barber

The free parking – spearheaded by Mayor Stretch Kontelj and councillor Eddie Kontelj – will apply to all on-street two-hour parking spaces.

One Facebook commenter wrote “They are offsetting the first 2 hours (sic) free they’ve been advertising. As the saying goes, there are no free lunches.”

“Something has to pay for the ‘free’ parking. And it’s either that or your rates. So no one has really benefited here as usual,” another poster wrote.

The council says the free parking is part of a broader strategy to revitalise central Geelong and improve accessibility to local businesses in the area.

“We’ve listened to feedback from businesses, shoppers, and residents who say they would benefit from a free parking initiative in central Geelong,” Stretch Kontelj said.

Julia Ryabova, co-owner of popular Mavs Greek Restaurant on Little Malop Street, said she was grateful for council’s decision and hoped people would be less deterred by parking fees when choosing to dine out.

“Parking has always been a problem … people cancel bookings last minute because they can’t find parking,” Ms Ryabova said.

“We are very happy, hopefully this is the first step to bring people into central Geelong.”

Originally published as Anger at parking cost spike ahead of free rollout