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‘You can’t park there, mate’ … Sally Capp’s row over limo parking on CBD footpaths

Sally Capp has refused to repay the cost of taking private limos around the city as it emerged her chauffer-driven hire car is allowed to park illegally outside Town Hall.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp has commented for the first time since the cost and use of ratepayer-funded limousines were revealed by the Herald Sun.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp has commented for the first time since the cost and use of ratepayer-funded limousines were revealed by the Herald Sun.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp has refused to repay the cost of taking private limos around the city, including to sports events with family members, as it emerged her chauffer-driven hire car was allowed to park illegally outside Town Hall.

Making her first comments since the Herald Sun 18 days ago revealed the regularity of her limo use, sometimes even for short distances, Ms Capp said she had reduced the use of ratepayer-funded luxury car hire since becoming Lord Mayor.

“When I came in, in 2018, I did make a commitment to significantly reduce the use. So I’m really pleased that I have been able to do that,” she said.

Ms Capp said the car cost had come down to “just a fraction of what it was previously”.

Sally Capp says she has reduced the use of ratepayer-funded luxury car hire since becoming Lord Mayor. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui
Sally Capp says she has reduced the use of ratepayer-funded luxury car hire since becoming Lord Mayor. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui
A chauffeur-driven BMW parked on the footpath outside Melbourne Town Hall on August 8, 2023
A chauffeur-driven BMW parked on the footpath outside Melbourne Town Hall on August 8, 2023

Ms Capp’s limousine hire bill totalled more than $31,000, compared to the $80,000 cost of running her predecessor Robert Doyle’s council-owned Statesman Caprice.

This was despite her pledge to walk, cycle or take public transport and only use a hire vehicle on rare occasions.

It can also be revealed the limo service is given free rein to park illegally on the footpath outside Ms Capp’s Town Hall office.

The limousine service has been spotted several times parked on the pavement – a Rule 197 offence normally incurring a $576 fine.

A private-hire Mercedes parked on the footpath on Swanston St on December 8, 2022
A private-hire Mercedes parked on the footpath on Swanston St on December 8, 2022
A private hire vehicle parked outside Town Hall on Swanston St on March 12, 2023.
A private hire vehicle parked outside Town Hall on Swanston St on March 12, 2023.

The council’s website states: “You must not stop on a nature strip or footpath for any reason, even for a moment.”

Motorcycles are permitted, unless signed.

The private luxury vehicles used to chauffeur the Lord Mayor, often a BMW or Mercedes, have been regularly spotted parked across the footpath, restricting pedestrian access, and sometimes during the busy December shopping period.

The council did not respond to detailed questions about the parking status, except to say that “cars collecting the Lord Mayor and dignitaries visiting the building are directed to park next to the driveway for short periods of time”.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp arriving at the 2023 AFL Grand Final on September 30 by limo.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp arriving at the 2023 AFL Grand Final on September 30 by limo.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp in the back of a ratepayer-funded limo.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp in the back of a ratepayer-funded limo.

A statement also said there was “ample space” for pedestrians to walk around a parked car.

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said the parking rort showed the Lord Mayor and council were out of touch with ratepayers.

“Yet again Sally Capp and the City of Melbourne are doing whatever they please and are the first to lecture us on what to do,” he said.

“The average person would simply not get away with this.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp (right) arrives by limo at the 2023 Melbourne Cup.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp (right) arrives by limo at the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

Ms Capp attended a pre-New Year’s press conference on Thursday, saying that she drove her own vehicle into the city.

Town Hall policy of recent years is to discourage cars in the city, including the 20km of separate bike lanes and encouraging active and public transport.

The council expects to collect more than $8.6m in fines from parking offences this financial year.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/you-cant-park-there-mate-sally-capps-row-over-limo-parking-on-cbd-footpaths/news-story/7abb4e84ba777a3bf38aefc510db9a97