City parking fees to rise 25 per cent By Martin Boulton - The AGE June 22, 2005 - 10:41AM
A rise in parking fees across the city from July 1 is expected to be followed by a further 50 cent rise from January next year - pushing the cost of parking in the city to $3.50 per hour.
Melbourne City Council last night agreed to review the cost of parking across the city as part of a half-year review of the 2005/06 budget.
The cost of an hour's parking in the city's centre bays will rise from $2.40 to $3 from July 1.
But after last night's council meeting, on-street parking in the city and parking within council-owned car parks could rise to $3.50 per hour from the start of next year.
The expected proceeds of $2.5 million would be spent on child care, bicycle infrastructure and upgrades to parks and gardens.
Child-care services will receive an extra $1 million, the Capital City Trail and Northbank bicycle path projects will receive $900,000, and parks - including an upgrade of Royal Park - will get $600,000.
Cr Peter Clarke said the further increase in parking fees was about "ensuring community projects get a priority, in particular those projects that past councils have not dealt with."
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Advertisement"These (rises) have been foisted on council following deals done by the Lord Mayor and the State Government over funding for the (Southbank) convention centre and the Commonwealth Games," Cr Clarke said.
The council has made a controversial contribution of $43 million to the convention centre, and its Commonwealth Games contribution has reached $32 million.
Last night Lord Mayor John So said: "We are looking at the services and facilities that the council needs to continue to provide to meet the ever-changing communities in our city.
"In this budget we strike a balance, ensuring that we maintain a very moderate and reasonable rate increase. We are also looking at addressing the congestion due to cars circling around the city."
"This is a budget that works for the betterment of Melbourne."
- with Royce Millar