Paid parking trial starts

Keith Platt keith@mpnews.com.au

THE summer paid parking trial is now underway at three Mornington Peninsula foreshore car parks. Despite concerns about fairness and its online operation, Mornington Peninsula Shire last week said it had “compiled everything you need to know to park with ease”.

The three car parks at Sunnyside Beach, Mount Eliza, Schnapper Point (near the pier), Mornington and near Flinders pier.

Two and four hour restrictions apply at Mornington, but Sunnyside and Flinders have no time limits.

Parking is free for peninsula residents who have an e-permit and $6.50 an hour for visitors or $19.50 a day at Sunnyside and Flinders.

The pay parking fees visitors must download the PayStay app and follow the prompts. They can also pay by calling PayStay or visiting their website on the day of their visit.

Peninsula residents must obtain a free e-permit from the shire’s website: mornpen.vic.gov.au/epermits

A statement issued by the shire on Friday 1 December said parking rules - “made with the help of Mornington Peninsula residents and businesses” - at the three chosen car parks “have been refined to minimise the impact on visitors and ensure the tradition of a ‘day at the beach’ is not compromised”.

The paid trial parking trial had stemmed from council’s mid-year decision ”to provide equal access to popular beaches and fairly distributing the cost of maintaining these areas”.

A 15-minute “grace period” would ensure that there would be no charge for vehicles dropping off or picking up passengers or that had been unable to find a vacant park.

The trial at the three car parks would test the concept, rules and technology before council made any more decisions on paid parking.

The mayor Cr Simon Brooks said all parking payments were electronic and linked to the vehicle registrations, “so there will be no parking meters or paper tickets issued”.

Revenue from the trial would be used to maintain foreshores and other services, including grass mowing, managing trees and cleaning beaches.

Brooks said e-permits for residents and businesses and their staff to park free the three locations were available on council’s website.

“Any decision to roll the system out to other council-managed foreshore car parks will not be made until a full assessment of the success or otherwise of this pilot has been established.”

Information about using the app and e-permits is available at: mornpen.vic.gov.au/epermits

Comments about the paid parking trial: mornpen.vic.gov.au/paidparking