www.yarra.org

As I've put on my most recent leaflet - I've added up all the fines that Yarra has issued over the 5 years till June this year.

You can see your street at http://www.yarra.org/parking_enforcement_stats_streets

Parking is one of the major issues at Yarra, and has been mismanaged for years by council.

The problem is simple - a massive number of cars visit Yarra each day, and the current Councilors aren't prepared to do anything significant - and large scale - to protect residents.
In addition, parking enforcement is seen to be revenue raising opportunity, not something to be done to make sure that visitors comply to the current (inadequate) restrictions.

Parking would be easy to address, IF the council wanted to do anything about it. instead they have done nothing, and have even got rid of the Parking Community Advisory Committee (which I was on), after ignoring most of their recommendations.

Follow the links below for more detail -
Parking Enforcement
Parking Enforcement Statistics (includes parking fine counts for all streets in Yarra)
Parking and Planning

For all parking related stories click here.

coming soon
Permit only Parking
Resident Parking Permits
Business Parking Permits
Changing Parking restrictions on your street

Ian

Theoretically, when some applies for a planning permit for a new or changing development, they have to provide adequate parking.

There are provisions in the State Planning Framework, and the Council have a local 'town planning parking policy', which both provide formulas for how many spaces should be provided.

The problem is

1. Like most things in the Victorian Planning (non) System, the numbers are only a guideline, not mandatory.
2. Any access to public transport is deemed to be an acceptable reason not to provide parking.

Parking enforcement Statistics - look up your street! Click here

Parking enforcement is one of the most significant resident issues in Yarra. Unlike visitors, residents want effective enforcement of parking restrictions!

Unfortunately, parking enforcement in Yarra is run as a revenue-raising exercise, not one of trying to maximise compliance with parking restrictions.

On multiple occasions over the years, Yarra Council has explained to me that they don't want to do 'strict' enforcement. They argue that if people obey restrictions, revenue falls. No, I'm not joking!

Compare this to other councils. In many you have a high chance of (correctly) getting a ticket if you slightly overstay the limit, or park where you shouldn't. Not in Yarra!

What do we need to do? My best summary is this paper, submitted in 2004 to Yarra Council.

Enforcement Plan
Parking enforcement is one of the key areas of parking management for the City of Yarra. However, it is an area that has no clear public policy, and is an area that concerns and frustrates residents.

We need to –

As you can see from the graph below, the amount of fines issued varies significantly during the year, and is generally trending down. This isn't because more people are obeying the parking signs!

All "on a clearway" fines, for the 5 years till 30/6/2008

The top 4 streets account for 91% of fines.