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                    Better parking

                    We’re making parking simpler and fairer in your neighbourhood.

                    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​As we deliver our Parking and Kerbside Management Plan, we’re reviewing and revising the on-street parking in all neighbourhoods across the City of Melbourne. After we engage with the local community, we design improved parking conditions and then roll out the changes in each neighbourhood.

                    This is a review of street parking which is managed by City of Melbourne and does not affect the 130 off-street car parking facilities in the municipality.

                    This page presents the main changes we’re making in each local area.

                    On this page:

                    You can visit our timeline of neighbourhood parking reviews​ to see when we’ll engage with other local areas.

                    Southbank and Botanic Gardens​

                    Parking improvements to Southbank and Botanic Gardens precinct will be rolled out from mid-March.

                    The changes are not ‘set and forget’. We will review the changes within a year to make sure the new parking conditions are working well. 

                    What are the Southbank and Botanic Gardens parking improvements?​

                    Consistent two hour (2P) time limit for all general parking spaces in the CBD, from 7am to 10pm every day.

                    • ​We’re changing a range of parking time limits in the CBD to two hours. This will simplify parking conditions and signs, and reduce parking confusion and mistakes. 
                    • The number of drivers cruising the CBD streets to find kerbside parking will decrease, as all general parking spaces will have the same time limit. Simply look for a green parking sign to park for up to two hours. 
                    • As well as reducing traffic congestion, this will keep more CBD spaces turning over for people who need to park at the kerbside. ​

                    Need to run a quick errand? When you use the EasyPark app you’ll pay nothing for up to 15 minutes in any ‘green-signed’ parking space, like ‘2P Meter’.

                    • Simply use the EasyPark app to start a session as soon as you park, and stop the session when you leave.  
                    • If you’re in and out in 15 minutes or less, we’ll waive the parking fee. 
                    • No fees are waived if you park longer than 15 minutes. 
                    • If you cannot access the EasyPark app, call 1300 734 070 for support.​

                    Off-peak parking rate of $4 per hour in the CBD after 7pm on weekdays, and all weekend.

                    • ​We’re introducing fairer pricing to better reflect parking demand and trip types in the CBD, as demand for kerbside parking continues well into the evening and across the weekend. 
                    • An off-peak rate of $4 per hour will apply to metered spaces from 7pm weekdays, and all weekend. 
                    • The peak rate will remain at $7 per hour and apply to metered spaces until 7pm on weekdays. 
                    • Making sure pricing reflects demand will help keep kerbside spaces turning over. ​

                    Loading zones reviewed and repositioned to make sure we have the right spaces in the right locations.

                    • ​We’re making sure loading zone spaces are located where they’re needed most. 
                    • We’re also making all loading zones a consistent 30 minutes. 
                    • These changes will give drivers enough time to complete deliveries and give businesses confidence that their deliveries will arrive on time.  

                    Accessible parking spaces reviewed and repositioned to improve location and accessibility.

                    • ​We’re moving accessible parking spaces closer to kerb ramps and crossing points wherever possible. 
                    • We’re also using blue line marking in accessible spaces for better identification. 
                    • Disability parking permit holders can also park for double the time limit shown on any general ‘green sign’ parking space (up to four hours in a ‘2P Meter’ space).  
                    • This will help people with disability better plan trips to the city, with more parking options that suit their needs. 

                    Designated pick up / drop off spaces in every street (typically the first space after every intersection).

                    • Did you know that you can stop for up to two minutes in a ‘No Parking’ area if you’re picking-up or dropping-off passengers and you stay within three metres of your vehicle?  
                    • We’re providing clearly-signed spaces in the CBD to support quick pick up / drop off (for rideshare, taxi and private vehicles). 
                    • This better reflects the changing ways people enter and exit the city. 
                    • These spaces will typically be the first space after every intersection, making them easy for drivers and passengers to find and access. ​

                    Hundreds of spaces ‘unlocked’.

                    • We’re unlocking hundreds more spaces across the CBD, making sure more public parking is available at the right time of day. 
                    • We’ll set parking conditions so that most loading zones become two-hour parking spaces after 4pm. 
                    • This will create more parking options and make better use of the loading zones that are underutilised in the afternoon and evening. 
                    • Always check the signs when you park to understand what conditions apply. 

                    Easier to understand off-street parking options.

                    • Did you know that only 5 per cent of public CBD parking spaces are located at the kerbside? 95 per cent are located in off-street car parks. 
                    • We’re working with car park operators to make it easier for you to understand the off-street parking options available.  
                    • This will help you plan ahead and make the best parking choice for your time in the city. ​

                    Where and when are these improvements occurring?

                    • ​Kerbside parking is in increasingly high demand and used in many different ways – that’s why we’re working with the community and businesses to get the balance right.
                    • CBD parking improvements are underway and will finish early next year.
                    • The CBD parking area that these changes apply to is shown in the map below. 
                    • The CBD parking improvements will be followed by parking improvements in other neighbourhoods across the municipality – but we will seek your input first.
                    • We’ll also regularly review parking layouts right across the municipality. 
                    • Always check the signs when you park to understand what conditions apply.  

                    A map of Melbourne CBD with a blue shaded section indicating where parking changes apply.

                    Improve availability of parking in evenings and on weekends

                    ​To support turnover of parking when demand remains high:

                    • We will extend parking control hours to a consistent 7am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday.
                    • A ‘peak’ rate of $4 per hour will apply between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Friday. There is no increase to the current peak rate.
                    • An ‘off peak’ rate of $2 per hour will apply after 7pm weeknights and on weekends.​

                    Apply simplified, consistent controls that meet local needs

                    • ​Southbank ‘green sign’ parking will typically be 2P Meter (two hours) or 3P Meter (three hours) to support the typical visit length in the neighbourhood. Accessible parking will typically be 4P (four hours).
                    • We will no longer provide all-day kerbside parking in Southbank. This is to prioritise the demand for short-term parking by locals and visitors. Low turnover in untimed parking areas limits the number of vehicles that can access the kerbside each day.
                    • Long-term parking will be provided in the nearby Botanic Gardens to accommodate people needing longer stays (such as workers). Parking controls will include 4P Meter (four hours) and P Meter (untimed). We will also promote the available off-street parking options​ in the precinct. ​

                    Improve access for deliveries, pick up/drop off and short stops to support high-density living in Southbank

                    • ​We will install more pick up/drop off spaces (‘No Parking’) to help commercial passenger and food delivery vehicles access buildings in Southbank
                    • 15 Minutes Free Parking in any ‘green sign’ space via the EasyPark app will be introduced in Southbank following the success of this initiative in the central city.​

                    Provide layover parking for tourist coaches

                    • ​We will provide more long-stay parking for tourist coaches visiting the Botanic Gardens precinct and central city.

                    ​You can see how we’re designing each street in Southbank and Botanic Gardens precinct.​​

                    Always check the signs when you park to see what conditions apply.

                    Central city (CBD)

                    We completed the roll out of improved parking conditions in the CBD in March 2024.

                    We’ll give the community time to adjust, then review the changes to make sure the new parking conditions are working well. ​

                    What are the CBD parking improvements?

                    • ​Consistent two-hour (2P) time limit for all general parking spaces in the CBD, from 7am to 10pm every day. This changes a range of time limits in the CBD to two hours, simplifying parking conditions and the signs that communicate them. A two-hour time limit keeps more spaces turning over for people who need to park at the kerbside.
                    • Need to run a quick errand? When you use the EasyPark app you’ll pay nothing for a short stop (up to 15 minutes in any ‘green-signed’ parking space, like ‘2P Meter’). If you’re in and out within 15 minutes, we waive the parking fee. No fees are waived if you park longer than 15 minutes. This initiative helps to boost parking turnover.
                    • Off-peak parking rate of $4 per hour in the CBD after 7pm on weekdays, and all weekend. The peak rate will remain at $7 per hour and apply to metered spaces until 7pm on weekdays. Demand has increased during these periods and this helps to maintain parking turnover and availability for people needing to travel by car.
                    • Loading zones reviewed and repositioned to make sure we have the right spaces in the right locations. All loading zones will be a consistent 30 minutes to give drivers enough time to complete deliveries.
                    • Accessible parking spaces reviewed and repositioned to improve location and accessibility. Disability parking permit holders can also park for double the time limit shown on any general ‘green sign’ parking space (up to four hours in a ‘2P Meter’ space).
                    • Designated pick up / drop off spaces in every street (typically the first space after every intersection). You can use these ‘No Parking’ spaces to stop for up to two minutes if you stay within three metres of your vehicle. These spaces are easy to find and access, and perfect for if you’re picking-up or dropping-off passengers. ​
                    • Hundreds of spaces ‘unlocked’ across the CBD, to make sure more public parking is available at the right time of day. We’ve also set parking conditions so that most loading zones become regular two-hour parking spaces after 4pm. This creates more parking options, more of the time.​
                    ​You can see how we designed each block in the central city.​
                    ​
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