Albert parking fees irk clubs Shaun Phillips 29th July 05 Herald Sun
SPORTS bodies fear recreational users of Albert Park and families will be driven away by parking fees soon to be imposed on the area.
Fees of $2.20 an hour will apply to 2000 spaces around the park from September or October.
Concessions have been offered for club members, but officials say they do not go far enough.
Swimming Victoria has written to Sports Minister Justin Madden and Environment Minister John Thwaites calling for them to intervene.
"We keep hearing about obesity in society and the benefits of sport and exercise," Swimming Victoria chief executive Ron Bongetti said.
"We're supposed to be encouraging healthy living, not discouraging it."
Football, hockey and yachting clubs have all cried foul, saying they could lose members.
Parking restrictions will apply from 6am to 10pm, seven days a week.
Parks Victoria spokesman Alex Holt said there would be a mix of three-hour and all-day parking, with a $8.80 daily maximum on weekdays and $6.60 on weekends.
Members of sporting clubs will be able to buy a six-month permit for $50.
But casual users of the park and its facilities will pay full fees.
Mr Holt said many car spaces were now taken by people who worked nearby, exploiting lax policing of time limits.