ELECTRONIC permits issued during a nine-month paid parking trial will be linked to individual licence plates to prevent them being shared.
The plan to charge visitors to the Mornington Peninsula for parking in foreshore areas has sparked a hostile reaction from many residents, despite other Port Phillip bayside councils already having paid parking in place.
While the trial will begin in summer and run for at least six months, the shire says it will use feedback and results to decide whether to make it permanent.
The shire has allocated $1.16 million over two budgets to pay for the paid parking trial and major projects coordination team leader Marcus Harris has told councillors that he expects fees collected during the trial will cover its cost.
Under the trial, all permits will be ePermits available to people who live on the peninsula, including renters, or who own a home in the shire that is not being rented out. Eligibility for ePermits will be based on evidence such as a utility bill, lease agreement, rates notice or vehicle registration. There will be no stickers or other physical permits issued.
Each household is eligible for a maximum of five permits, one per vehicle, and each ePermit will be linked to an individual vehicle licence plate.
The mayor Cr Steve Holland said the shire had not estimated how many permits it would need to issue and was still working to finalise the ePermit system.
He said residents or holiday home owners need only apply for an ePermit if they intend to park at Sunnyside North beach, Mount Eliza, Flinders pier or the car park at Schnapper Point, Mornington during the trial period.
The parking fee will be based on an hourly rate of $6.20, and even residents with permits who park in the three trial areas will have to observe time limits.
Cr Holland also rejected suggestions the shire would eventually implement paid parking for residents.
“This is an opportunity for residents and visitors to continue to share our foreshores while more fairly distributing the costs of maintaining these areas,” he said.
To understand more about the Visitor Paid Parking Pilot look at the FAQs on the shire webpage at mornpen.vic.gov.au/paidparkingpilot
First published in the Mornington News – 13th June 2023
