MOTORISTS may soon be paying to park their vehicles on the Mornington Peninsula, but not those issued with a residents’ permit.
“Parking management services” will be invited to submit expressions of interest to Mornington Peninsula Shire covering resident permits, paid parking and smart parking technology.
The mayor Cr Anthony Marsh says call for submissions “does not mean council has decided to introduce paid parking and there is no intention to introduce paid parking for residents”.
The shire says for two years it has been “exploring all available options to better manage parking” around beaches, town centres “and across the peninsula more generally”.
Paid parking is one of the options being considered to “improve the parking experience”.
It says the expressions of interest from commercial parking companies “will give us a detailed understanding of the technology and services available and the factors that need to be considered, such as a resident parking permit scheme, paid parking and smart parking technology”.
Community input will be sought as part of the process to “develop key principles designed to improve the experience of parking for everyone who lives, works and plays on the peninsula”.
Marsh said the shire had taken a “minimalist approach to parking management” over the past 20 years [but] “with high visitor numbers and a growing population, we can no longer do that”.
“In many locations across the peninsula parking is in high demand throughout the year,” Marsh said.
“This sustained pressure on our parking infrastructure has a negative impact on local businesses, as well as causing stress for local residents.
“We are looking at all available options to better manage parking and improve the parking experience for everyone. An EOI is an efficient way of gathering information. It does not mean council has decided to introduce paid parking and there is no intention to introduce paid parking for residents.
“No decision will be made until after we’ve consulted with our community and considered all the options available to improve the parking experience across the peninsula.”
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 23 August 2022
