By Luke Voogt
Paid parking resumed in central Geelong on Monday with fees increasing to $3.10 per hour in some parts of the CBD.
The resumption follows eight months of free parking in central Geelong as part of council’s COVID-19 relief measures.
According to council, the initiative formed a large part of its $16.9 million in COVID-19 support measures for 2020.
As paid parking returns council will resume its trial of 30-minute free parking in central Geelong’s two-hour (2P) zones.
Council plans to trial the initiative until June 30.
Geelong mayor Stephanie Asher said the trial aimed to encourage more visitors to the CBD and increase economic activity for businesses impacted by COVID-19.
“Council’s excited to resume the trial of free parking in two-hour zones,” Cr Asher said.
“We know this is an incentive for visitors to stop and shop in the CBD.
“We also want to examine the impacts it has on usage, turnover and our community and business sectors.”
City Hall’s system will automatically reduce the charge in two-hour zones by 30 minutes for one transaction per vehicle per day.
All motorists will need to enter their vehicle registration via parking meters or an app, and adhere to time limits.
Motorists can pay via coins, tap-and-go or through the EZiCom and EasyPark apps. Parking metres will no longer issue paper tickets but motorists can print a hard copy of their receipt onsite.
Credit card insert technology is being removed from Geelong metres due to limited usage and will not be available, according to City Hall.
Council’s Park and Ride pay-for-use service will also resume on weekdays from January 4, running from Upper Hearne Parade in Eastern Park through central Geelong.
Parking will remain free but time-limited on weekends.
In adopting its 2020/2021 budget last June, council approved an increase from $3.00 to $3.10 per hour for casual parking.
Council also approved an increase from $5.80 to $6.40 in three-hour, four-hour and all-day capped street parking, and increased all-day fees at Haymarket car park from $13 to $13.50.
The changes came into effect following the conclusion of free parking on Monday.
