Melbourne’s worst streets for parking fines

They’re the “happy hunting grounds” for council parking inspectors. As multiple Melbourne councils rake in multimillion-dollar hauls, we reveal the worst streets across the city and suburbs. SEE THE LIST

A parking inspector in the CBD. Picture: Jason Edwards

Councils are collecting millions of dollars from parking fines as suburban streets become “happy hunting grounds” for parking inspectors.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal the streets of gold across Melbourne where councils are slugging motorists the most.

In the CBD, five streets reaped more than $1.2 million in parking fine revenue in 2018-19, with Queen St topping the table at $1.98 million.

High St in the Darebin council area was the biggest infringement hotspot outside the city, collecting $1.2 million.

Brunswick and Smith streets in the inner north were high on the list, while the area around the South Melbourne Market was a magnet for fines, with York St and Coventry St both in the top 10.

The City of Melbourne raked in $29.43 million, while suburban councils also netted multimillion-dollar hauls, including Port Phillip $15.34 million, Yarra $15.29 million, Boroondara $10.25 million, Maribyrnong $8.77 million and Monash $6.25 million.

It comes as Victorian councils look for other forms of revenue to counter the 2.5 per cent rate cap imposed by the state government.

Parking inspectors working in the CBD. Picture: Jason Edwards

Ratepayers Victoria president Jack Davis said there needed to be a review of the “ridiculous” amount of fines being dished out and greater accountability of what the revenue was spent on.

“They’re creating this lack of parking,” he said. “It comes back to insufficient off-street parking. They’re creating a situation where people are forced to park on the streets and then they fine them. They should use this revenue to provide more off-street parking.”

Manager of Preston restaurant Dexter, Pete Kosztka, said parking inspectors were quick to nab anyone caught out on High St.

“It’s a clearway from 4.30pm to 6.30pm and generally you’ll see a parking inspector there at 4.28pm getting ready to pounce,” he said.

Mr Kosztka said it was a “necessary evil to keep it a clearway” but said inspectors were also prolific at booking motorists in side streets.

In York St, South Melbourne, Artie Jones said there appeared to be a growing number of parking inspectors hovering outside his work at Factory Sound.

“It feels like there’s always somebody stationed there,” he said. “It’s a happy hunting ground, shall we say. When we see the parking officials there we always shout out to our customers ‘have you got your tickets?’”

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Mr Jones said he regularly saw people booked for being one minute over their time.

He said the difficult parking situation and threat of hefty fines was driving customers away.

Port Phillip acting mayor Louise Crawford said the council’s parking controls “strive to achieve a fair turnover so as many people as possible can park”.

“This helps reduce traffic congestion, caused by drivers looking for a spot, and improves access to businesses,” she said.

The Sunday Herald Sun on Saturday saw a parking inspector book half a dozen people in the city on one Queen St block.

Rachael Moulder was fined $83 in Queen St. Picture: Jason Edwards

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Motorist Rachael Moulder said she had only parked for seven minutes but received an $83 fine in a 10-minute zone.

“I’ve been here less than 10 minutes — parking is so expensive in the city,’’ she said.

“I’m not going to pay $7 an hour when I’m going into the shop to buy one thing.”

A City of Melbourne spokeswoman said parking restrictions were strictly enforced because of the extremely high demand for parking spaces.

She said about 39 per cent of fines were issued for overstaying time restrictions.

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