Two new parking inspectors funded

Motorists overstaying parking limits have been put on notice with two new parking inspectors set to hit the streets of Baw Baw Shire’s business districts.

Two new full-time positions will be established and infringements fees and costs are expected to rise $225,000 in response.

Currently served by only one parking inspector, this year’s infringements and costs are expected to raise $249,000 for council. That is forecast to rise 90 per cent to $474,000 next year.

Shire chief executive officer Mark Dupe said the decision to hire two new parking inspectors was not a money grab.

He said it originated from community feedback during three intensive parking studies.

“In order to have a greater turnover and make sure plenty of parking is available for everyone...one of the recommendations was to increase the level of surveillance across the shire,” Mr Dupe said.

The need for more parking enforcement was a common theme in the Warragul Parking Study and draft parking studies for Drouin, Trafalgar and Yarragon.

Based on parking supply and demand analysis across the central business districts of each town, as well as community feedback, the three draft studies indicated enforcement was a key issue allowing drivers to overstay parking restrictions.

“Currently, council has only one parking enforcement officer who is responsible for parking enforcement across the shire during the week and over the weekends,” a report on the draft studies said.

The two full-time inspectors are amongst 11 new staff positions across the council workforce, equivalent to 9.1 full-time positions.

It comes as employee costs increase $3.03 million, mainly due to growth, EBA increment and increased superannuation.

The draft budget noted the new positions with an ongoing cost to council was equivalent to 7.3 full-time positions. This is lower than the 9.2 figure from last year.

In addition, 1.8 positions are fixed term, 0.8 are subject to grant funding over a two-year term, and one is fixed term for two years.

A part-time advocacy officer, transitioning from a fixed term position to ongoing role, will support council’s advocacy and grant portfolio.

With advocacy emerging as a growing necessity to secure external funding for projects to cater for the shire’s growth, this role will align with the release of the shire’s advocacy strategy. The draft strategy was put out for community consultation earlier this year.

Other new staff positions include: a Disaster Recovery Fund Arrangements (DRFA) claims officer; Live 4 Life coordinator for the rural youth mental health education program; animal management officer; theatre technician; organisation development advisor; graphic designer; and, student finance officer.

A statutory planning administration support officer also will be created. This support role is offset against fee revenue from the new non-statutory planning fees.