Geelong council split on plan to offer free CBD parking

FREE parking in central Geelong is back on the table, with a slim majority of City of Greater Geelong councillors voting to begin a 12-month trial later this year.

The matter of urgent business, which was moved by Cr Eddy Kontelj as a late addition to the city’s council meeting on April 9, proposes making the first 30 minutes free in all two-hour parking spaces in Geelong’s CBD from December 1 to November 30, 2020.

The timing of the motion is unusual, as the council is yet to formally receive the results of the Central Geelong Car Parking Discussion Paper – which received about 2,500 completed surveys – or develop a strategy in response.

According to Cr Kontelj’s motion, the Geelong community “have long been requesting equitable and flexible parking solutions for our CBD”. “Currently, the Geelong CBD is the only area of Geelong which demands parking fee payments for on-street parking.

“The recent Central Geelong Car Parking Discussion Paper did not specifically seek feedback from the community regarding their wants, views and opinions as to whether the Geelong CBD should have areas of free on-street parking. As such, this question will not be answered through this survey.”

The amount of revenue lost from foregoing the parking fees is estimated to be up to $1.17 million in the coming financial year and up to $798,000 in the 2020/2021 financial year.

The matter of urgent business also allocates $500,000 in the coming budget to acquire and implement new smart parking technology, such as a pay by phone app; and requests city chief executive officer Martin Cutter consider introducing number plate recognition parking technology.

The CEO will report the impacts of the free parking trial to the council, including any impacts on the Central Geelong Car Parking Discussion Paper.

The motion passed by only one vote, with mayor Bruce Harwood voting against it.