By Luke Voogt
Thousands of Geelong motorists could be eligible for refunds on parking fines between 2009 and 2018, City Hall has announced.
Up to 6400 infringements worth approximately $600,000 are eligible for a refund under a new program that the City of Greater Geelong launched recently.
The program covers some fines that residents payed after unsuccessfully appealing their parking infringements.
City Hall is issuing the refunds in response to a misinterpretation of processing requirements for parking infringement appeals under the Infringements Act 2006, planning director Gareth Smith explained.
“Unfortunately, this was a common issue for many councils across Victoria, with unique ramifications for each individual organisation,” he said.
“Due to the City of Greater Geelong’s thorough audit processes, our inquiries found that only 11 per cent of the total 56,000 appeals received by the city during this period are affected.
“It is worth noting that it was the processing of reviews that was in breach of the act, not the application of the fine. All fines paid were fairly reviewed and found to be in breach of local laws.”
Over the period, a number of Victorian councils delegating the review of some or all infringement appeals to third-party contractors was determined to be in breach of the act.
In 2019 Geelong council resolved to refund community members impacted by this issue.
Investigations undertaken by the Victorian Ombudsman supported this position.
The refund program does not cover any infringements appealed or issued outside of 2009-2018.
“We are confident that our current process for reviewing appeals against parking infringements is sound,” Mr Smith said.
“All reviews and decisions of appeals against parking infringements issued by the city are conducted by the city’s internal ombudsman.”
City Hall says it has sent letters directly to community members eligible for a refund, via the addresses recorded with the infringement appeal.
More information: www.geelongaustralia.com.au/appealsrefund
