REVERSE PARKING?

CRISIS MEETING: Council calls emergency session after big backlash to sneaky price hike

GEELONG council is preparing to backflip on massive CBD parking increases, holding an emergency meeting just nine days after it approved the hikes in the Budget.

Mayor Bruce Harwood has called a special meeting for tonight, admitting “the community was not properly informed and the implementation was flawed”.

The largest parking fee increases — which were not listed in the Budget — cover 291 parking spaces on Bellerine and Brougham streets, and at Eastern Beach, Ritchie Boulevard and at Western Beach, where parking now costs $13; a rise of $7.20 (125 per cent) or $6.20 (90 per cent), depending on the bay.

According to a council report released last night, the purpose of tonight’s meeting is to give council a chance “to consider corrective action” on the increases.

It’s also expected council will use the meeting to call for a review in case there are other significant fee increases that were not appropriately advertised.

The report acknowledges several car parking price hikes in the latest Budget were “unintentionally” not exhibited to the community.

According to the report, the parking hikes would mean the City would rake in about $500,000 to $600,000 per annum more from Geelong motorists, with all-day parking making up about $480,000 of this income.

“Members of our community who use on-street all-day car parking were not appropriately advised of the increase,” the report by city officers stated.

“As consultation did not occur, it is appropriate that council seek to implement actions that restore faith in the process.”

In calling the special meeting, Mayor Harwood said: “Council acknowledges the angst in our community caused by the rise in parking fees in central Geelong.

“While the intention of the changes was to bring parity to parking prices, the community was not properly informed and the implementation was flawed.

“We are looking forward to meeting … to decide how we will address this situation.”

Geelong councillors earlier this week signalled that the series of massive, hidden parking price hikes could be reversed amid widespread condemnation from motorists.

Councillors said on Tuesday they were blindsided by revelations the City had increased the cost of some allday parking spaces by as much as 125 per cent — and failed to include the changes in Budget papers.

Cr Stephanie Asher, chair of strategy and communications, said the meeting would provide an outcome over the parking debacle. “The council is very much united on this issue and we felt it was important to meet as soon as possible to find a solution,” Cr Asher said.

In addition to the parking hikes, council will also be undertaking a “comprehensive analysis” of all budgeted 2019-20 fees and charges to identify any other significant increases which were not included in the Budget consultation process.

Tonight’s special meeting will start at 7pm at City Hall, 30 Gheringhap St. The meeting is open to the public.