Parking revenue is set to bounce back and rise above pre-pandemic levels in a boost to Warrnambool City Council's bottom line.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns have put a dent in the revenue stream with car parking fees down $72,000 on budget expectations and parking fines $66,000 lower.
Cr Ben Blain told this week's council meeting the revenue council took in from parking meters was expected to "bounce back".
"With the easing of restrictions I do think we will see parking revenue increase, I'd suggest above pre-pandemic levels," he said.
The council is expected to rake in $681,000 in parking fees and fines in the 2021/22 financial year, up from $526,000 last year and $555,000 in 2020.
The expected increase in revenues comes despite the council making three off-street car parks free for an hour any time of the day.
Parking fees have risen as a trade-off. One, two and four-hour zones rose from $1.40 per hour to $2 and all-day car parking jumped from $3 a day to $4.
Cr Max Taylor also raised concerns on behalf of Warrnambool residents who said they had to fork out $2500 in parking fees since meters were introduced outside their home.
He said the couple, aged in their 70s, didn't have a garage to park their car and were initially told by a council officer they didn't have to put any money in the meters when they were rolled out across the CBD about three years ago.
But when the meters were further rolled out into their street, it created issues.
"They have been booked by council officers eight times and each time they have gone around to the council chambers to present their case and the fines have been removed," Cr Taylor said.
"But I would ask the council officers: can this situation be rectified as soon as possible?
"They're fed up with having to put money in these meters when they have lived in this street for so many years without parking meters."
The council's chief executive officer Peter Schneider said staff would look at the issue and report back to Cr Taylor and the residents affected.
CORONAVIRUS STORIES:
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we aim to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.standard.net.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines
- and newsletters.
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
- Tap here to open our Google News page.
- Join our Courts and Crime Facebook group and our dedicated Sport Facebook group
- Subscribe
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.